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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

@fisherdanar.bsky.social

26K followers 2.4K following 4K posts

Director, Center for Environment Community, & Equity and Professor, AU | NonRes Sr Fellow, Brookings | IPCCWG3 AR6 | www.danarfisher.com | TED Talk on Saving Ourselves: go.ted.com/danarfisher

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Dana R. Fisher is an American sociologist, professor of sociology, public speaker, and author. She is the director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity and a professor in the School of International Service at American University. Her areas of research and expertise are activism, democracy, the climate crisis, and environmental policy. .. more

Political science 27%

Environmental science 23%

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · Nov 19

My TED Talk on Saving Ourselves is OUT! Tune in to learn why we ALL need to be apocalyptic optimists: Prepared for the climate shocks that are coming and ready to rally as activists, disruptors, and bridge-builders to save ourselves from the climate crisis. go.ted.com/danarfisher

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 10h

Wut??

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

JD Vance describes Chuck Schumer as "one of the most famous Palestinians in the world"

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 12h

Actually, I'm using this one from June 2025 (just found it). www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/u...

www.pewresearch.org

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 12h

I was just looking there, thanks!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 12h

Hey hivemind: Can anyone recommend a closed-ended survey question/batter of questions that asks about media diets and sources of news that has been fielded in a national survey

a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a blackboard with the words " anyone ? anyone ? "

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a blackboard with the words " anyone ? anyone ? "

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Dana R. Fisher , and 2 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Dana R. Fisher, Simon Lester, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

JD Vance describes Chuck Schumer as "one of the most famous Palestinians in the world"

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Phil Mandelbaum @philmandelbaum.bsky.social · 15h

Voting isn’t the solution unto itself, but it’s critically important at the local level.

There will be 52,000 elections held next month alone, and many will be determined purely by turnout.

You know what to do.

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

LOLGOP ❌👑❌ @thefarce.org · 19h

If you're working on your No Kings signs, @antoniascatton.bsky.social will hook you up.

The Big List of Protest Signs for #NoKings 10/18

Instead of talking to MAGA or each other, focus on winning the hearts and minds of the unaware and undecided.

reframingamerica.substack.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 19h

Everyone in academia should read this story. I don't know Mark personally but I know his work (wishing him and his family safe passage out of the US)! 👇

Sarah Szalavitz💡 @dearsarah.bsky.social · 20h

Rutgers Professor @mark-bray.bsky.social, who studies & writes about Antifascism,Tries to Flee to Spain After Death Threats

By the time he & his family reached the gate, their tickets were cancelled.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/n... flagrantly & appallingly lawless. Hope he & his family are ok.

Rutgers Expert on Antifa Tries to Flee to Spain After Death Threats

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Bessma Momani, Dana R. Fisher , and 1 more Will Jennings, Bessma Momani, Dana R. Fisher, Constance Bantman

Sarah Szalavitz💡 @dearsarah.bsky.social · 20h

Rutgers Expert on Antifa Tries to Flee to Spain After Death Threats

www.nytimes.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Sadly, it's completely believable (but so very very WRONG).

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

DianePE @dianepe.bsky.social · 1d

Unbelievable! Trump is the Real Insurrectionist!!! #January6th #RemoveTrumpNow

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Reposted by James Goodwin

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone who has argued that the Trump Administration is not in the pockets of fossil fuel interests, read this and reconsider your perspective!

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

White House offers ‘concierge’ service to fossil fuel firms, official says

Brittany Kelm, a senior policy adviser for the National Energy Dominance Council, detailed in a podcast how the council works to advance fossil fuel projects.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Yup, but playing down seems really wrong (and evidence of the ways middle aged women were disappeared in Hollywood storytelling)

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Well, 80s 50 year olds were actually played by women in their 60s, which is part of the problem…

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

I’m right here and a Golden Girl (but no one my age looks like that)!

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

And yes, I know how to google that and I’m just 😶

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

I just read an article that reported the Golden Girls were in their 50s when the series started and I find myself personally affronted…

a group of older women are dancing together in a room .

ALT: a group of older women are dancing together in a room .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Marc Lynch, Ben H. Ansell , and 11 more Dani Rodrik, Marc Lynch, Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders, Hugo Mercier, Jacob T. Levy, Bessma Momani, Samantha Brennan, Dana R. Fisher, Kate Starbird, Brian Weatherson, Leah Stokes, Aviel Roshwald, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 1d

"It wanted to signal strength. Instead, it’s revealing its weakness. The administration’s need to break the academy is forcing it to make a desperately risky gamble." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

In this time of polycrisis, connecting the growing autocracy to the climate crisis is necessary. It’s good to see young activists meeting the moment!

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Youth-led US climate activists widen focus to fight authoritarianism

Sunrise Movement, which led calls for a Green New Deal, will organize against Trump’s attacks on universities

www.theguardian.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

The president of the United States is considering using the Insurrection Act to go around judicial decisions. In other words, he is threatening to ignore the separation of powers that makes up a key part of our democracy.

www.axios.com/2025/10/07/t...

Trump floats Insurrection Act use amid National Guard standoff with states

The extreme presidential power hasn't been used without state consent in over 60 years.

www.axios.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

Anyone who wants to understand what's going on, look up the role air traffic controllers played in ending the last government shutdown (during Trump 1.0 in 2019)

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 3d

The FAA is delaying flights at Newark and Denver airports because they haven’t got enough air traffic control. Burbank has zero ATC from 4.30-10pm.

Lots of controllers who aren’t being paid during the government shutdown are calling in sick.

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

Just re-upping this here 👇

Ryan Haas @ryanjhaas.bsky.social · 4d

Oregon leaders say California National Guard members were flown into Oregon last night in an effort to circumvent a federal court ruling.

Oregon, California governors blast Trump for deploying California Guard despite court order

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said Sunday that the president's action to send 300 California National Guard members to Portland appears to circumvent the federal judge's Saturday ruling to temporarily block ...

www.opb.org

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

The idea that people have been able to claim that Identifying public officials who are working for the state (which pays them with OUR tax dollars) is doxing is just 🤯!

hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 3d

Identifying public officials isn't "doxing." People have the right to know who is working for their government. Nor, for that matter, is it "radical left-wing terrorism." So it's frustrating to see platforms caving to these bad faith characterizations. www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/06/1...

Another effort to track ICE raids was just taken offline

People over Papers was removed by Padlet, the platform it was built on, yesterday.

www.technologyreview.com

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Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Dana R. Fisher, Mark Rice

Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 2d

Renewables have overtaken coal in the global electricity mix for the first time, @ember-energy.org has found
www.linkedin.com/pulse/renewa...

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Sanford F. Schram, James Goodwin , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Sanford F. Schram, James Goodwin, Dana R. Fisher, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Dan Immergluck

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 3d

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 3d

Another effort to track ICE raids was just taken offline

People over Papers was removed by Padlet, the platform it was built on, yesterday.

www.technologyreview.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Why does it ALWAYS feel like a paper is crap right when you send in the final edits before publication??

two women are standing next to each other and one of them is asking the other to tell her why .

ALT: two women are standing next to each other and one of them is asking the other to tell her why .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Edward @arkayne242.bsky.social · 3d

If only there was some kind of warning.

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Ryan Haas @ryanjhaas.bsky.social · 4d

Oregon leaders say California National Guard members were flown into Oregon last night in an effort to circumvent a federal court ruling.

Oregon, California governors blast Trump for deploying California Guard despite court order

www.opb.org

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 4d

History and research would lead us to expect a broader mobilization in Portland in response to this type of escalation of repression. 👀👀

NPR @npr.org · 4d

Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city. via @opb.org

Federal tactics on Portland protesters escalate, hours after judge rules against Trump

www.opb.org

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