Carole V. Bell
@cvbell.bsky.social
🇯🇲Culture critic, media & politics prof and researcher. I 💙 Art & Democracy. Writing: NPR, Boston Globe, IndieWire, LATimes, NYTimes, Washington Post, Oprah Daily, The Emancipator, Kirkus and BookPage. UNC J-School PhD. Linktr.ee/Cvbell
Pinned
Carole V. Bell
@cvbell.bsky.social
· Dec 24
30 years ago, 'Waiting to Exhale' was the blockbuster Hollywood didn't anticipate
The 1995 adaptation of Terry McMillan's novel celebrated the beauty of Black sisterhood.
www.npr.org
I had so much fun revisiting the movie Waiting to Exhale and its impact, which might be even bigger than you remember, for NPR.
30 years later, 'Waiting to Exhale' endures
www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
30 years later, 'Waiting to Exhale' endures
www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
Aerial skiing sound like beautiful madness to me!? Meet the 2026 U.S. Olympic aerials ski team
www.nbcolympics.com/news/meet-20...
www.nbcolympics.com/news/meet-20...
Meet the 2026 U.S. Olympic aerials ski team
The United States will send eight athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics in aerials skiing, with Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis and two-time Olympians Winter Vinecki and Kaila Kuhn leading the pack.
www.nbcolympics.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Aerial skiing sound like beautiful madness to me!? Meet the 2026 U.S. Olympic aerials ski team
www.nbcolympics.com/news/meet-20...
www.nbcolympics.com/news/meet-20...
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Many people in South Africa, where Elon is from, died to create a genuinely multiracial polity. They were killed by people who thought like Elon.
The people who thought like Elon also lost. Seems their “common culture” of white supremacy wasn’t enough.
bsky.app/profile/alan...
The people who thought like Elon also lost. Seems their “common culture” of white supremacy wasn’t enough.
bsky.app/profile/alan...
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Many people in South Africa, where Elon is from, died to create a genuinely multiracial polity. They were killed by people who thought like Elon.
The people who thought like Elon also lost. Seems their “common culture” of white supremacy wasn’t enough.
bsky.app/profile/alan...
The people who thought like Elon also lost. Seems their “common culture” of white supremacy wasn’t enough.
bsky.app/profile/alan...
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Net favorability of how Americans view
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
How Americans view key members of the Trump administration
A 58% majority say they have an unfavorable view of President Donald Trump, and 40% have a favorable view.
www.pewresearch.org
February 14, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Net favorability of how Americans view
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
The Pam Bondi testimony was weird. And not just because the stock market rant was a non sequitur. Also: the market has been breaking records for years. Is the current rise truly remarkable? Nope. The S&P 500 was up 17% in 2025. It was up 23% in 2024, Biden’s last year.
See: wapo.st/4rniZoK
See: wapo.st/4rniZoK
Stocks surged in 2024 even as Americans fretted over the economy
The S&P 500 gained more than 24 percent, highlighting a disconnect between the day-to-day experience of households and the performance of their investments.
wapo.st
February 15, 2026 at 1:54 PM
The Pam Bondi testimony was weird. And not just because the stock market rant was a non sequitur. Also: the market has been breaking records for years. Is the current rise truly remarkable? Nope. The S&P 500 was up 17% in 2025. It was up 23% in 2024, Biden’s last year.
See: wapo.st/4rniZoK
See: wapo.st/4rniZoK
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
A slew of polls in recent weeks has shown many Hispanic voters across the country, repulsed by the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign, are souring on the Republican president they supported to a historic degree in 2024.
In South Texas, the GOP immigration hard line is now political kryptonite
Texas Republicans bet on continuing to win over Latino voters. Then Trump began his aggressive deportation campaign.
www.politico.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:20 PM
A slew of polls in recent weeks has shown many Hispanic voters across the country, repulsed by the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign, are souring on the Republican president they supported to a historic degree in 2024.
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
A Big Five editor I interviewed
“It’s impossible to get reviews. And the reviews you do get are not moving the needle. Literary fiction is review-driven. So if you're not getting reviews, or the reviews you’re getting are not getting eyes on them, it’s like, well, then what are you supposed to do?”
“It’s impossible to get reviews. And the reviews you do get are not moving the needle. Literary fiction is review-driven. So if you're not getting reviews, or the reviews you’re getting are not getting eyes on them, it’s like, well, then what are you supposed to do?”
February 15, 2026 at 12:07 PM
A Big Five editor I interviewed
“It’s impossible to get reviews. And the reviews you do get are not moving the needle. Literary fiction is review-driven. So if you're not getting reviews, or the reviews you’re getting are not getting eyes on them, it’s like, well, then what are you supposed to do?”
“It’s impossible to get reviews. And the reviews you do get are not moving the needle. Literary fiction is review-driven. So if you're not getting reviews, or the reviews you’re getting are not getting eyes on them, it’s like, well, then what are you supposed to do?”
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
NEW: Hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than 4,400 times since October that President Donald Trump’s administration is detaining immigrants unlawfully, a Reuters review of court records found.
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 14, 2026 at 12:14 PM
NEW: Hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than 4,400 times since October that President Donald Trump’s administration is detaining immigrants unlawfully, a Reuters review of court records found.
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
What do voters want?
Fareed Zakaria has a theory:
“Voters prefer rebellion to restoration”
wapo.st/3MwlzcS
Fareed Zakaria has a theory:
“Voters prefer rebellion to restoration”
wapo.st/3MwlzcS
Opinion | What do voters want? Two countries are making the answer clear.
From Britain to Japan, “keep calm and carry on” is getting buried.
wapo.st
February 14, 2026 at 12:05 PM
What do voters want?
Fareed Zakaria has a theory:
“Voters prefer rebellion to restoration”
wapo.st/3MwlzcS
Fareed Zakaria has a theory:
“Voters prefer rebellion to restoration”
wapo.st/3MwlzcS
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
FLASH: ICE says 2 of its officers are under investigation for apparently lying about Jan. 14 incident in Minneapolis where officer shot immigrant. DOJ abruptly dropped charges yday w/@kyledcheney
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
ICE says federal agents appear to have lied about confrontation that led to shooting
Officers claimed they were attacked, prompting one to open fire.
www.politico.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:44 PM
FLASH: ICE says 2 of its officers are under investigation for apparently lying about Jan. 14 incident in Minneapolis where officer shot immigrant. DOJ abruptly dropped charges yday w/@kyledcheney
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Sen. John Curtis is sinking Jeremy Carl’s nomination for a State Department post.
Carl has appeared to endorse the “great replacement theory,” slammed the Juneteenth holiday and called for the execution of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Carl has appeared to endorse the “great replacement theory,” slammed the Juneteenth holiday and called for the execution of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Utah Sen. John Curtis is sinking Jeremy Carl's nomination for a State Department post
Jeremy Carl was grilled at a Senate confirmation hearing.
www.politico.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Sen. John Curtis is sinking Jeremy Carl’s nomination for a State Department post.
Carl has appeared to endorse the “great replacement theory,” slammed the Juneteenth holiday and called for the execution of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Carl has appeared to endorse the “great replacement theory,” slammed the Juneteenth holiday and called for the execution of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Resurrecting this after a challenging day:
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
Opinion | Here’s What Happened When I Made My College Students Put Away Their Phones
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Resurrecting this after a challenging day:
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
"Here's what happened when I made my college students put away their phones." I find the links to research in this article especially useful.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
According to multiple NYT sources, it wasn’t even military personnel at Fort Bliss that fired an anti-drone laser at alleged cartel drones. It was CBP who used the weapon on loan from DoD against a child’s party balloon they mistook for a drone. The Pentagon gave CBP an anti-aircraft weapon.
February 12, 2026 at 3:28 AM
According to multiple NYT sources, it wasn’t even military personnel at Fort Bliss that fired an anti-drone laser at alleged cartel drones. It was CBP who used the weapon on loan from DoD against a child’s party balloon they mistook for a drone. The Pentagon gave CBP an anti-aircraft weapon.
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
yeah, that Chronicle article is missing a *lot* of important context. Unsurprisingly, local coverage is better at explaining what happened and why - it's connected to the new legally mandated center for promoting conservative politics that is paying Gee to be at OSU this year
A Chase Center affiliate assaulted a journalist trying to interview Gordon Gee. See @dispatch.com coverage of the incident, which includes our statement.
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
www.dispatch.com/story/news/e...
Ohio State professor on leave after tackling cameraman filming Gordon Gee
An Ohio State University professor was suspended after tackling a cameraman attempting to film former university president E. Gordon Gee.
www.dispatch.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:05 PM
yeah, that Chronicle article is missing a *lot* of important context. Unsurprisingly, local coverage is better at explaining what happened and why - it's connected to the new legally mandated center for promoting conservative politics that is paying Gee to be at OSU this year
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Eight former U.S. ambassadors to NATO and eight former U.S. supreme commanders in Europe issued a joint letter arguing for continuing Washington’s commitment to the NATO alliance, calling it “the cornerstone of United States national security” and “vital” to preserving U.S. global interests.
NATO Remains Vital to U.S. Security, Ex-Ambassadors and Generals Say
Despite doubts over Washington’s commitment to European security, the alliance enhances American national interests, a bipartisan group of 16 high-level former officials wrote in a joint letter.
nyti.ms
February 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Eight former U.S. ambassadors to NATO and eight former U.S. supreme commanders in Europe issued a joint letter arguing for continuing Washington’s commitment to the NATO alliance, calling it “the cornerstone of United States national security” and “vital” to preserving U.S. global interests.
Not seeing the correction here. “Stitt ‘incorrectly stated my position on the very exclusive Governors Annual Dinner and Meeting at the White House,’ Trump wrote, adding that invitations were sent “to ALL Governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there.”
wapo.st/464Krip
wapo.st/464Krip
Trump allows Democratic governors at White House meeting after initial snub
Trump had initially excluded Democrats from the traditionally bipartisan meeting. However, not all Democrats were invited to a separate dinner.
wapo.st
February 12, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Not seeing the correction here. “Stitt ‘incorrectly stated my position on the very exclusive Governors Annual Dinner and Meeting at the White House,’ Trump wrote, adding that invitations were sent “to ALL Governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there.”
wapo.st/464Krip
wapo.st/464Krip
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
The rise of vice-signalling: how hatred poisoned politics
The rise of vice-signalling: how hatred poisoned politics
Over the last 10 years, the terms of political debate have changed completely – and week by week they seem to get worse
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The rise of vice-signalling: how hatred poisoned politics
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
This is a good summary but also *there is a transcript.* Not everyone wants or can use audio. Thank you @pbsnews.org. #AccessibilityMatters
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show delivered a powerful message and was dense with symbolism. https://to.pbs.org/46vweex
The cultural impact of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show delivered a powerful message and made international headlines. The show was dense with symbolism, including messages of Puerto Rican pride and independence. But it...
to.pbs.org
February 10, 2026 at 3:53 AM
This is a good summary but also *there is a transcript.* Not everyone wants or can use audio. Thank you @pbsnews.org. #AccessibilityMatters
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Gorgeous, joyous resistance and pop culture with a historical consultant. This is my love language.
Not at all surprised to learn that Bad Bunny has a historical adviser. His halftime show was a reminder that our history and culture are deeply intertwined with the rest of the western hemisphere. We should think of his performance as part of #America250. #SuperBowl
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu
February 9, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Gorgeous, joyous resistance and pop culture with a historical consultant. This is my love language.
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
PBS kids is sending me
February 9, 2026 at 1:19 AM
PBS kids is sending me
Master of fashion as statement time.com/7368945/bad-...
Bad Bunny’s Fashion Is Political
Bad Bunny has turned a once-marginalized symbol of Puerto Rican identity into a source of modern cultural power.
time.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Master of fashion as statement time.com/7368945/bad-...
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
#Romancelandia! When I get blurb requests, I now bluntly ask if any AI was used in the writing or editing of the book. I state that if the answer is yes, that’s a fast NOPE.
Let’s also include cover art, foreign translations, & audiobook editions in our no-AI lists because No AI means NO AI.
Let’s also include cover art, foreign translations, & audiobook editions in our no-AI lists because No AI means NO AI.
This reader will ***always*** care. And as a writer, I will NEVER use A-fucking-I. Also, these shitty thieves being interviewed in this shitty article used Anthropic, which admittedly stole my 65 novels to train their shitty computers so double-fuck them all.
fuck this lady, fuck the nyt reporter, fuck all of this. fuck amazon for introducing the KU page read model that makes this possible, fuck our tech overlords.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/b...
February 8, 2026 at 2:29 PM
#Romancelandia! When I get blurb requests, I now bluntly ask if any AI was used in the writing or editing of the book. I state that if the answer is yes, that’s a fast NOPE.
Let’s also include cover art, foreign translations, & audiobook editions in our no-AI lists because No AI means NO AI.
Let’s also include cover art, foreign translations, & audiobook editions in our no-AI lists because No AI means NO AI.
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 AM
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
Reposted by Carole V. Bell
Led by Mikaela Shiffrin, Ilia Malinin and Jordan Stolz, Team USA is heading to the Milan Cortina Games with a shot at an unprecedented medal haul.
Why America Could Dominate the Winter Olympics Like Never Before
Led by Mikaela Shiffrin, Ilia Malinin and Jordan Stolz, Team USA is heading to the Milan Cortina Games with a shot at an unprecedented medal haul.
on.wsj.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Led by Mikaela Shiffrin, Ilia Malinin and Jordan Stolz, Team USA is heading to the Milan Cortina Games with a shot at an unprecedented medal haul.