William M. Cavert
@williamcavert.bsky.social
Historian of Britain, its animals, pollution, energy, climate, nature, and people. Author of The Smoke of London: Energy and Environment in the Early Modern City. Living in St Paul, MN.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
ICE’s Detention Center outside Chicago was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. One day later, a "system crash" lost all video footage that could have shown how detainees were being treated. trib.al/8EEVfEr
November 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
ICE’s Detention Center outside Chicago was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. One day later, a "system crash" lost all video footage that could have shown how detainees were being treated. trib.al/8EEVfEr
Reposted by William M. Cavert
This, by @giacgrassi.bsky.social, remains one of the simplest and best climate visuals
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This, by @giacgrassi.bsky.social, remains one of the simplest and best climate visuals
Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone,
November 23, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone,
Check out Martin Luther over here, challenging orthodoxies.
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Check out Martin Luther over here, challenging orthodoxies.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 AM
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Accountability for crimes is a big umbrella issue that Democrats could use to connect topics that voters might otherwise struggle to see as related - Epstein, Saudi Arabia, personal corruption, unconstitutional power grabs, ICE terror, and so many more.
NEW: In light of widespread allegations of civil rights violations arising from Trump's immigration crackdown, Democrats are renewing efforts to pass legislation to hold federal agents individually accountable:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Democrats target federal officials accused of civil rights violations in new legislation
Lawmakers are launching a new effort to close a legal loophole that means federal officials, including law enforcement agents, cannot be sued for constitutional violations.
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Accountability for crimes is a big umbrella issue that Democrats could use to connect topics that voters might otherwise struggle to see as related - Epstein, Saudi Arabia, personal corruption, unconstitutional power grabs, ICE terror, and so many more.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
My students have a paper on the history of American environmentalism due today, and every single one of them has a more sophisticated understanding of that term than this person, who I'm told is a prominent intellectual.
If there’s no shale gas then there’s no shale gas, but I still think environmentalism is basically bad and politicians should focus more on material prosperity.
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
My students have a paper on the history of American environmentalism due today, and every single one of them has a more sophisticated understanding of that term than this person, who I'm told is a prominent intellectual.
From a St. Paul city council member:
In this moment, I wish I could say ICE isn’t welcome here and have that mean something. But as much as our city’s residents don’t want ICE here, we cannot stop them from coming. When the federal government turns on its own people in this way, the tools that we have as a city are painfully limited.
November 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
From a St. Paul city council member:
This is good. Teaching critical, accurate history to kids means that you don't need to cover the same material twice, beginning with a nationalist hagiography that later gets challenged by a counter-narrative. It's hard for adults to unlearn such material, but not to start kids on something better.
I spent October traveling to schools throughout the South talking to students about American history. What I found were young people who understand we can tell a story that includes both the positive and the negative. As one 8th grader in Memphis said, “Doesn’t seem that hard, just say both things.”
Tell Students the Truth About American History
We owe it to Americans of all ages to be honest about the country’s past, including its contradictions.
www.theatlantic.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This is good. Teaching critical, accurate history to kids means that you don't need to cover the same material twice, beginning with a nationalist hagiography that later gets challenged by a counter-narrative. It's hard for adults to unlearn such material, but not to start kids on something better.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
I don’t think US taxpayers should subsidize treason against the United States
NEW: The DOJ is in settlement talks with Mike Flynn for $50M. They're robbing us blind. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Michael Flynn, DOJ in Settlement Talks Over $50 Million Claim
The Justice Department has been discussing settlements with two former officials from Donald Trump’s first term who — like the president — claim they’re owed major payouts from the US government as vi...
www.bloomberg.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I don’t think US taxpayers should subsidize treason against the United States
Reposted by William M. Cavert
"You know us...So please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong."
Powerful letter from retired Chicago broadcast journalists about what ICE/CBP is doing to our city: "it is terror"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/l...
Powerful letter from retired Chicago broadcast journalists about what ICE/CBP is doing to our city: "it is terror"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/l...
November 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"You know us...So please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong."
Powerful letter from retired Chicago broadcast journalists about what ICE/CBP is doing to our city: "it is terror"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/l...
Powerful letter from retired Chicago broadcast journalists about what ICE/CBP is doing to our city: "it is terror"
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/l...
Sure, if cows adored their white captors like the antebellum slaves who are imagined to have appreciated their paternalist masters, and if cows could discern human skin tones and were racist and studied census data, and if driving past hobby farms were research, this would be a shrewd observation.
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Sure, if cows adored their white captors like the antebellum slaves who are imagined to have appreciated their paternalist masters, and if cows could discern human skin tones and were racist and studied census data, and if driving past hobby farms were research, this would be a shrewd observation.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
NYPD taking photos of Columbia faculty during our vigil for CU students seized by ICE
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
NYPD taking photos of Columbia faculty during our vigil for CU students seized by ICE
It's this easy.
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
It's this easy.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
Agreed, and perhaps "be yourself and advocate for clear and meaningful policies that would help people" is a good strategy.
I have actually not seen Mamdani give a formal speech and what I’ll say is that unlike so many of his peers he is not trying to mimic anyone in his delivery. He is simply being himself and it is very effective.
I’ve been interested in political speeches for as long as I can remember. I’ve listened to nearly every inaugural and major address, and I’ve given tons of public speeches myself.
Zohran’s talent in this arena ranks among the best. He’s damn good. Hella good. Remarkably good.
Crazy to watch.
Zohran’s talent in this arena ranks among the best. He’s damn good. Hella good. Remarkably good.
Crazy to watch.
November 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Agreed, and perhaps "be yourself and advocate for clear and meaningful policies that would help people" is a good strategy.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
🚨 BREAKING: A federal judge in Rhode Island rules from the bench that the Trump admin **must** pay SNAP benefits.
"The court is orally ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely or as soon as possible for the November 1 payments to be made."
Story to come.
"The court is orally ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely or as soon as possible for the November 1 payments to be made."
Story to come.
This directly puts the ball in the Trump administration's court.
There's no longer a question of "can they issue SNAP benefits." They now **must** issue the payments.
So will they? And if so, how much?
These are now policy (and political) questions solely for the Trump administration.
There's no longer a question of "can they issue SNAP benefits." They now **must** issue the payments.
So will they? And if so, how much?
These are now policy (and political) questions solely for the Trump administration.
‼️ On SNAP, very significant here:
A federal judge rules that the Trump admin is "required" to spend the $5.5 billion in contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits.
But there will still be a gap in benefits; she gave the admin until Nov. 3 to share if/how they will issue payments.
A federal judge rules that the Trump admin is "required" to spend the $5.5 billion in contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits.
But there will still be a gap in benefits; she gave the admin until Nov. 3 to share if/how they will issue payments.
October 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
🚨 BREAKING: A federal judge in Rhode Island rules from the bench that the Trump admin **must** pay SNAP benefits.
"The court is orally ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely or as soon as possible for the November 1 payments to be made."
Story to come.
"The court is orally ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely or as soon as possible for the November 1 payments to be made."
Story to come.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
34 people killed in 50 days. Their guilt or innocence unknown, for an alleged crime that doesn't carry a death sentence. That's a lot of death.
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
October 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
34 people killed in 50 days. Their guilt or innocence unknown, for an alleged crime that doesn't carry a death sentence. That's a lot of death.
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
adamisacson.com/boat-strikes/
"Involved in" by driving the car which hit the man who then died. If only active verbs existed to express who does what.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Inter keeper involved in crash, 81-year-old dies
Inter Milan's Spanish goalkeeper Josep Martínez was involved in a crash Tuesday morning that killed an 81-year-old man, the Carabinieri confirmed.
www.espn.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:39 PM
"Involved in" by driving the car which hit the man who then died. If only active verbs existed to express who does what.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
If faculty tell their university that more support for research is necessary, how about the university does not ask faculty for donations to support faculty research.
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
If faculty tell their university that more support for research is necessary, how about the university does not ask faculty for donations to support faculty research.
Good point Lisa, call your senator to demand congress perform its constitutional duties.
“The Congress is adrift,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska. “It’s like we have given up. And that’s not a good signal to the American public.”
1/4
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/b...
1/4
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/b...
The Abdication of Congress
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Good point Lisa, call your senator to demand congress perform its constitutional duties.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
One of her students became so overwhelmed that he had a panic attack. “It’s very scary because this is their normal,”...”You start forming your memories more solidly around 4 or 5 years old, so they have some happy kindergarten memories. But now all of sudden, this is going to take over…”
Teachers Scrambled After ICE Released Tear Gas Outside a Chicago Elementary School
Chicago teachers said they’re dealing with traumatized students in underfunded schools — while Trump spends millions to militarize American cities.
theintercept.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
One of her students became so overwhelmed that he had a panic attack. “It’s very scary because this is their normal,”...”You start forming your memories more solidly around 4 or 5 years old, so they have some happy kindergarten memories. But now all of sudden, this is going to take over…”
Reposted by William M. Cavert
Lots of US companies have done lots of dreadful things to Americans. But the symbolism of paying to destroy the White House is hard to top.
This is who is paying for the destruction of the White House East Wing, per @wsj.com
Altria Group Inc.
Amazon
Apple Inc.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.
Caterpillar Inc.
Coinbase Global
Comcast Corp.
Hard Rock International
Google
HP Inc.
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
1/3
Altria Group Inc.
Amazon
Apple Inc.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.
Caterpillar Inc.
Coinbase Global
Comcast Corp.
Hard Rock International
HP Inc.
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
1/3
October 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Lots of US companies have done lots of dreadful things to Americans. But the symbolism of paying to destroy the White House is hard to top.
Reposted by William M. Cavert
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
October 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.