J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
History, analysis & unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England.
Pinned
J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
· Dec 4
When I joined Twitter years ago, I created multiple accounts for my separate interests and activities. Each account followed different groups and attracted different followers.
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Reposted by J. L. Bell
In 1945, the US Army put out a training manual designed to equip rank and file soldiers with the tools to spot and combat incipient fascism were it to emerge in post-war America. Those lessons are just as American as Miller's illiberal bigotry, and worth remembering today. bsky.app/profile/seth...
The first fascistic tactic to look out for is a hate campaign against a particular religious, racial, or ethnic group. Like, for example, let's say a candidate emerges who calls all people of one nationality "rapists" and "criminals," while promising to ban immigrants from only one religious group.
November 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In 1945, the US Army put out a training manual designed to equip rank and file soldiers with the tools to spot and combat incipient fascism were it to emerge in post-war America. Those lessons are just as American as Miller's illiberal bigotry, and worth remembering today. bsky.app/profile/seth...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Nov. 28, 1775: Samuel Nicholas is commissioned the first "Captain of Marines" by the Continental Congress in an action that also makes him the first naval officer of the 13 United Colonies. He will make the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia his headquarters as he signs recruits.
November 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Nov. 28, 1775: Samuel Nicholas is commissioned the first "Captain of Marines" by the Continental Congress in an action that also makes him the first naval officer of the 13 United Colonies. He will make the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia his headquarters as he signs recruits.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I've taken a deep dive into the DOGE bro's open source software code commits to verify they never wrote (or even oversaw) any code beyond culture war messaging. It's all trivial stuff like this: taking out the "nonbiary" option on some form.
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I've taken a deep dive into the DOGE bro's open source software code commits to verify they never wrote (or even oversaw) any code beyond culture war messaging. It's all trivial stuff like this: taking out the "nonbiary" option on some form.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Although DOGE occasionally pretended to modernize some computer system, the only non-vaporware changes to software they ever oversaw (mostly they didn't write the code themselves, just leaned on someone else to do so) were to remove "DEI" stuff from government websites
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Although DOGE occasionally pretended to modernize some computer system, the only non-vaporware changes to software they ever oversaw (mostly they didn't write the code themselves, just leaned on someone else to do so) were to remove "DEI" stuff from government websites
Reposted by J. L. Bell
They thought we, being radical leftists apparently, would put a "DOGE sucks" type of message onto government websites or into government communication systems
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 AM
They thought we, being radical leftists apparently, would put a "DOGE sucks" type of message onto government websites or into government communication systems
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
My evidence for that: the right did exactly this to government websites. So they were projecting what they planned to do onto us.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Book Moon Books
Bright and shiny independent bookshop in Easthampton, MA
www.bookmoonbooks.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The entire purpose of building research on a citational structure is that the inevitable flaws are traceable and stable enough in their location that the overall field structure can take those mistakes/debates into account as part of the field discourse.
November 28, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The entire purpose of building research on a citational structure is that the inevitable flaws are traceable and stable enough in their location that the overall field structure can take those mistakes/debates into account as part of the field discourse.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Happy #pubday to "The Course of Human Events: The Declaration of Independence and the Historical Origins of the United States" by @stevesarson.bsky.social !
How reading the Declaration of Independence as a document of history explains its intended meaning
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10151/
How reading the Declaration of Independence as a document of history explains its intended meaning
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10151/
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Happy #pubday to "The Course of Human Events: The Declaration of Independence and the Historical Origins of the United States" by @stevesarson.bsky.social !
How reading the Declaration of Independence as a document of history explains its intended meaning
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10151/
How reading the Declaration of Independence as a document of history explains its intended meaning
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10151/
Reposted by J. L. Bell
At long last, here's my conversation with wonderful @elizmccrack.bsky.social, whose wonderful new A Long Game goes on sale (at least in the US) next week!
A Long Game
[my conversation with Elizabeth McCracken]
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
At long last, here's my conversation with wonderful @elizmccrack.bsky.social, whose wonderful new A Long Game goes on sale (at least in the US) next week!
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
We found 23 new apartment complexes built on Mariupol’s ruins, now sold on Russian sites to Russian families — while Ukrainians fight to reclaim their homes.
See the investigation unfold on YouTube: youtu.be/8_MnE3s_CKs?...
See the investigation unfold on YouTube: youtu.be/8_MnE3s_CKs?...
How Mariupol’s Homes Were Rebuilt — And Resold
YouTube video by Bellingcat
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
We found 23 new apartment complexes built on Mariupol’s ruins, now sold on Russian sites to Russian families — while Ukrainians fight to reclaim their homes.
See the investigation unfold on YouTube: youtu.be/8_MnE3s_CKs?...
See the investigation unfold on YouTube: youtu.be/8_MnE3s_CKs?...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
If it's true, if the US is willing to allow borders to be redrawn by force and let aggressors be rewarded, then the gates of hell are about to be opened.
This may prove to be the single most destabilizing and conflict-spawning decision of the 21st century.
A truly Black Friday.
This may prove to be the single most destabilizing and conflict-spawning decision of the 21st century.
A truly Black Friday.
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
If it's true, if the US is willing to allow borders to be redrawn by force and let aggressors be rewarded, then the gates of hell are about to be opened.
This may prove to be the single most destabilizing and conflict-spawning decision of the 21st century.
A truly Black Friday.
This may prove to be the single most destabilizing and conflict-spawning decision of the 21st century.
A truly Black Friday.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Trump attacked immigrants living in the U.S., claiming without evidence that most of them were from “failed nations” or from “prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
Trump Says He’ll ‘Permanently Pause’ Migration From ‘Third World Countries’
Trump attacked immigrants living in the U.S., claiming without evidence that most of them were from “failed nations” or from “prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
www.forbes.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Trump attacked immigrants living in the U.S., claiming without evidence that most of them were from “failed nations” or from “prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Ah, two men 'conversing', is it? 😘
(Deux hommes vus en buste, conversant, by Saint-Aubin, 1775)
(Deux hommes vus en buste, conversant, by Saint-Aubin, 1775)
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Ah, two men 'conversing', is it? 😘
(Deux hommes vus en buste, conversant, by Saint-Aubin, 1775)
(Deux hommes vus en buste, conversant, by Saint-Aubin, 1775)
Reposted by J. L. Bell
As his army seemed about to disintegrate, 250 years ago today, in 1775, George Washington wrote, 'Could I have foreseen what I have, & am like to experience, no consideration upon earth should have induced me to accept this command.'
November 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
As his army seemed about to disintegrate, 250 years ago today, in 1775, George Washington wrote, 'Could I have foreseen what I have, & am like to experience, no consideration upon earth should have induced me to accept this command.'
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I’ve finally decided to start up my account here! As an intro to myself: I’m a historian of early America currently in my first year of UAlbany’s history PhD program. I worked in museums for eight years before deciding to embark on the PhD journey.
November 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I’ve finally decided to start up my account here! As an intro to myself: I’m a historian of early America currently in my first year of UAlbany’s history PhD program. I worked in museums for eight years before deciding to embark on the PhD journey.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Indeed. www.lawdork.com/p/the-two-sh...
November 28, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Indeed. www.lawdork.com/p/the-two-sh...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Experts say it’s highly unusual for the White House to tell agents to give up custody of potential evidence in an investigation, as it did with the Tates.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Experts say it’s highly unusual for the White House to tell agents to give up custody of potential evidence in an investigation, as it did with the Tates.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that in my 30 years working,” an ex-DHS official said.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Colorado's DOC says it won't pursue the transfer of Tina Peters, the Trump-supporting county clerked convicted for breaching voter equipment, as the federal government requested recently. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Colorado doesn’t plan to transfer imprisoned former county clerk to federal custody
Tina Peters’ situation has become a cause celebre in the election conspiracy movement.
www.politico.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Colorado's DOC says it won't pursue the transfer of Tina Peters, the Trump-supporting county clerked convicted for breaching voter equipment, as the federal government requested recently. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
he’s fascinating to me to observe simply as an example of the varieties of human experience. Totally incapable of empathy or even the appropriateness that can serve as a guide to conceal the inability to feel empathy.
Q: Do you plan to attend Sarah's funeral?
TRUMP: I haven't thought about it yet, but it's certainly something I can conceive of. I love West Virginia. You know, I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere.
TRUMP: I haven't thought about it yet, but it's certainly something I can conceive of. I love West Virginia. You know, I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere.
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 AM
he’s fascinating to me to observe simply as an example of the varieties of human experience. Totally incapable of empathy or even the appropriateness that can serve as a guide to conceal the inability to feel empathy.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
No one shld lose sight of the fact that the Guard was only in DC as part of an extended political messaging stunt. The shooter is guilty for the attacks/carnage. Donald Trump is responsible for them. This is the collateral damage of Trump abusing his powers as President.
Pirro: "These Guardsmen and all who are here to protect the District are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one."
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
No one shld lose sight of the fact that the Guard was only in DC as part of an extended political messaging stunt. The shooter is guilty for the attacks/carnage. Donald Trump is responsible for them. This is the collateral damage of Trump abusing his powers as President.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
There is zero legal path for either military court-martial or any other form of lawsuit, removal, etc. they know this. It’s all about INTIMIDATION & silencing dissent!
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
There is zero legal path for either military court-martial or any other form of lawsuit, removal, etc. they know this. It’s all about INTIMIDATION & silencing dissent!
Reposted by J. L. Bell
What’s left of this man’s brain is just a Rube Goldberg machine of racism
TRUMP: If you look at Somalia, they are taking over Minnesota.
REPORTER: What do the Somalians have to do with this Afghan guy who shot the National Guard members?
TRUMP: Ah, nothing. But Somalians have caused a lot of trouble. They're ripping us off.
REPORTER: What do the Somalians have to do with this Afghan guy who shot the National Guard members?
TRUMP: Ah, nothing. But Somalians have caused a lot of trouble. They're ripping us off.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 AM
What’s left of this man’s brain is just a Rube Goldberg machine of racism