Adam Arenson
@adamarenson.bsky.social
Writing and teaching history for a wider public. Black North American border-crossing after the Underground Railroad; Civil War and Reconstruction in the West; Mid-Century Modern art and architecture from Millard Sheets. Californian in NYC. adamarenson.com
Reposted by Adam Arenson
The statistic comes from an AI company, so I can’t swear to the veracity but it is too much regardless of the actual number.
November 28, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The statistic comes from an AI company, so I can’t swear to the veracity but it is too much regardless of the actual number.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
She was flying DOMESTICALLY. Holy effin crap.
This has the vibes of Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and I’m very serious when I say that.
This has the vibes of Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and I’m very serious when I say that.
November 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
She was flying DOMESTICALLY. Holy effin crap.
This has the vibes of Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and I’m very serious when I say that.
This has the vibes of Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and I’m very serious when I say that.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Our government is disappearing people and subjecting their families to unimaginable terror.
November 27, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Our government is disappearing people and subjecting their families to unimaginable terror.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Wow. BBC journalists are now not even allowed to report the censored line from my Reith Lecture, that Trump is “the most openly corrupt president in American history.”
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Wow. BBC journalists are now not even allowed to report the censored line from my Reith Lecture, that Trump is “the most openly corrupt president in American history.”
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
Reposted by Adam Arenson
The anti-vaccine community uses the phrase "natural immunity" as code-speech for "immunity via infection" – implying that this uses "natural processes", and also implying anything different must be "unnatural".
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
November 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The anti-vaccine community uses the phrase "natural immunity" as code-speech for "immunity via infection" – implying that this uses "natural processes", and also implying anything different must be "unnatural".
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
But the immunity developed from exposure to a vaccine is natural immunity too.
2/n
Reposted by Adam Arenson
An 18yo US citizen, surrounded by eight masked, armed agents of the state, taken into custody, not read his rights, not offered a chance to contact a lawyer, proof of citizenship ignored, handcuffed so tightly he later required medical attention.
Profoundly, profoundly anti-American shit.
Profoundly, profoundly anti-American shit.
ICE Detained an 18-Year-Old U.S. Citizen. This Is His Story.
YouTube video by The Hometown Holler
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
An 18yo US citizen, surrounded by eight masked, armed agents of the state, taken into custody, not read his rights, not offered a chance to contact a lawyer, proof of citizenship ignored, handcuffed so tightly he later required medical attention.
Profoundly, profoundly anti-American shit.
Profoundly, profoundly anti-American shit.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Turns out Mamdani's controversial proposal for government-run supermarkets isn't so novel. Other cities also are toying with the idea to bring fresh, affordable food to communities that do not have easy access to it. Good WSJ read (gift link)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Inside Atlanta’s First Government-Funded Supermarket
The goal is for the store to become profitable without any government subsidy within three years.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Turns out Mamdani's controversial proposal for government-run supermarkets isn't so novel. Other cities also are toying with the idea to bring fresh, affordable food to communities that do not have easy access to it. Good WSJ read (gift link)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Adam Arenson
“When people question why the university or president didn’t defend themselves, well because the University counsel was handpicked by our state Attorney General who’s doing the bidding for the Department of Justice.”
— Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Governor-elect
— Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Governor-elect
Spanberger hints at University governing changes to come - Cville Right Now
Appearing on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger called a UVA agreement with the feds "a weakened pact", and promised changes are coming in the way the Commonw...
cvillerightnow.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 PM
“When people question why the university or president didn’t defend themselves, well because the University counsel was handpicked by our state Attorney General who’s doing the bidding for the Department of Justice.”
— Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Governor-elect
— Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Governor-elect
Reposted by Adam Arenson
We are on track to lose $12.5 billion in tourism spending for 2025.
National parks have SO MANY people from other countries (since they get real vacations!)
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
November 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We are on track to lose $12.5 billion in tourism spending for 2025.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
This point needs to be made and frequently.
November 26, 2025 at 1:34 AM
This point needs to be made and frequently.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
This is one of those things that rarely gets talked about that has had a massive effect.
As fields like journalism, art, and academia were collapsed and living expenses skyrocketed they came to skew increasingly toward people whose families could afford to supplement their income.
As fields like journalism, art, and academia were collapsed and living expenses skyrocketed they came to skew increasingly toward people whose families could afford to supplement their income.
If you're ever wondered why journalists seem so out of touch most of the time it's because in order to establish yourself you need to either come from money, marry into money, or be OK with abject poverty and daily financial panic
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
This is one of those things that rarely gets talked about that has had a massive effect.
As fields like journalism, art, and academia were collapsed and living expenses skyrocketed they came to skew increasingly toward people whose families could afford to supplement their income.
As fields like journalism, art, and academia were collapsed and living expenses skyrocketed they came to skew increasingly toward people whose families could afford to supplement their income.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
To bear out this rosy projection, HSBC assumes that OpenAI will become "as ubiquitous [...] as Microsoft 365" (345mm users worldwide) while bringing in 10x the number of users (3bn).
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
Reposted by Adam Arenson
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Plan Cóndor, the secret U.S.-backed terror network that allowed repressive regimes to persecute opponents living in exile. The upcoming season of my podcast #UnderTheShadow dives into this past & the search for justice. @therealnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Plan Cóndor, the secret U.S.-backed terror network that allowed repressive regimes to persecute opponents living in exile. The upcoming season of my podcast #UnderTheShadow dives into this past & the search for justice. @therealnews.com
Reposted by Adam Arenson
conservatives made a conscious choice decades ago to go to where people are. they infiltrated radio and then conquered tv. they were early into digital news. meanwhile throughout out it all liberals have acted like if we just debunk their lies its enough. it isnt.
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
conservatives made a conscious choice decades ago to go to where people are. they infiltrated radio and then conquered tv. they were early into digital news. meanwhile throughout out it all liberals have acted like if we just debunk their lies its enough. it isnt.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
she was older than my great great grandma, who I knew www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
Gramma, a Galápagos Tortoise at the San Diego Zoo, Dies at About 141
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
she was older than my great great grandma, who I knew www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
Carlo Rotella: AI changes help us reemphasize why humans have to interact in the classroom to learn best
I’m a Professor. A.I. Has Changed My Classroom, but Not for the Worse.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Carlo Rotella: AI changes help us reemphasize why humans have to interact in the classroom to learn best
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Today is the anniversary of the British evacuating New York City after the end of the Revolutionary War. Here's how I learned about it: the piece that introduced me to the terrific work of @bencarp.bsky.social
Evacuation Day: Marking the End of the Revolutionary War
We know how to honor the image of soldiers charging forward, but we often forget to cheer the backs of troops as they peaceably depart.
werehistory.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Today is the anniversary of the British evacuating New York City after the end of the Revolutionary War. Here's how I learned about it: the piece that introduced me to the terrific work of @bencarp.bsky.social
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Going after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence is core to the fascist project, though.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
Targeting Kelly is one of those “this is why we’ll win” moments, bc it shows how politically impetuous this admin is.
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."
November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Going after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence is core to the fascist project, though.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
Reposted by Adam Arenson
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by Adam Arenson
This has happened against my wishes, and I’m genuinely dismayed by it.
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This has happened against my wishes, and I’m genuinely dismayed by it.
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
Reposted by Adam Arenson
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Adam Arenson
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Nike co-founder Phil Knight makes record-setting donation to help elect Republicans
It is the single largest donation Knight has made to an Oregon candidate or political action committee.
www.oregonlive.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Adam Arenson
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Adam Arenson
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I think it’s pretty clear at this point that one of the main impacts of LLMs is to disrupt thinking: to make it so that far too many people never properly learn how to do it, and then to control the output so there are thoughts that people never learn how to think.