Desiree Weber
@desireeweber.bsky.social
Political theorist at the College of Wooster — books, bikes, hikes and kittens — observing whatever it is that we make of this here world
Reposted by Desiree Weber
iCloud, Mega, and as a torrent. Archivists have uploaded the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss spiked.
Archivists Posted the 60 Minutes CECOT Segment Bari Weiss Killed
iCloud, Mega, and as a torrent. Archivists have uploaded the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss spiked.
www.404media.co
December 23, 2025 at 12:15 AM
iCloud, Mega, and as a torrent. Archivists have uploaded the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss spiked.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
UPDATE
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
December 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
UPDATE
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
I have updated my story linked below with a high-quality broadcast version of the 60 Minutes segment that was pulled by Bari Weiss.
Here it is (no paywall): bit.ly/4qn6Jn5
Reposted by Desiree Weber
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
Reposted by Desiree Weber
The right, along the Roberts Court, is trying to nullify the Reconstruction amendments guaranteeing equality under the law, in order to restore the Antebellum Constitution, which envisions “liberty” as an eternal aristocracy of race and class (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
December 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The right, along the Roberts Court, is trying to nullify the Reconstruction amendments guaranteeing equality under the law, in order to restore the Antebellum Constitution, which envisions “liberty” as an eternal aristocracy of race and class (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Desiree Weber
ICE claims that this man's death was "suspected to be from natural causes" but the story makes it patently obvious that ICE murdered this man through their actions and negligence.
abc7chicago.com/post/bulgari...
abc7chicago.com/post/bulgari...
Bulgarian Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, sparking calls for 'immediate investigation'
A Bulgarian business owner who lived in Chicago for decades and was arrested during an immigration enforcement 'blitz' has died while in the custody of ICE at a private prison in Michigan, the ABC7 I-...
abc7chicago.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
ICE claims that this man's death was "suspected to be from natural causes" but the story makes it patently obvious that ICE murdered this man through their actions and negligence.
abc7chicago.com/post/bulgari...
abc7chicago.com/post/bulgari...
Reposted by Desiree Weber
and in framing themselves as the only True Knowers, the data boys fail to understand how they form part of the complicated, contingent outcomes they’re claiming to observe objectively. “We can only respond to poll numbers, not shape action,” is itself a theory of the world that evidence doesn’t back
data is important, measurement of public opinion is important, but politics also isn't a machine. there are a vast number of qualitative factors at work. and people themselves are unpredictable.
December 20, 2025 at 10:50 PM
and in framing themselves as the only True Knowers, the data boys fail to understand how they form part of the complicated, contingent outcomes they’re claiming to observe objectively. “We can only respond to poll numbers, not shape action,” is itself a theory of the world that evidence doesn’t back
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies
uni-freiburg.de
December 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."
uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Mandatory syllabus publication is like voter ID laws in that its stated goal is an obvious pretext for causing a bunch of externalities that Republicans want but don't want to say they want.
December 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Mandatory syllabus publication is like voter ID laws in that its stated goal is an obvious pretext for causing a bunch of externalities that Republicans want but don't want to say they want.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
It’s the entire point. There’s no plan to make this meaningful for students. No plan to use it administratively. Its design and implementation signals its only real intent. It’s best and easiest use case is for systematic harassment and to scare faculty into complying in advance.
We know the students don’t read the syllabuses. So who will? Right-wing activists looking for excuses to hound profs.
December 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
It’s the entire point. There’s no plan to make this meaningful for students. No plan to use it administratively. Its design and implementation signals its only real intent. It’s best and easiest use case is for systematic harassment and to scare faculty into complying in advance.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
If you're not trans, I don't think I can fully explain how important this is.
It's so powerful that one of the most circulated science media publications in the world has come out and said "trans children are real and providing transition care improves their lives." That's groundbreaking.
It's so powerful that one of the most circulated science media publications in the world has come out and said "trans children are real and providing transition care improves their lives." That's groundbreaking.
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:58 PM
If you're not trans, I don't think I can fully explain how important this is.
It's so powerful that one of the most circulated science media publications in the world has come out and said "trans children are real and providing transition care improves their lives." That's groundbreaking.
It's so powerful that one of the most circulated science media publications in the world has come out and said "trans children are real and providing transition care improves their lives." That's groundbreaking.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
December 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Denmark’s military intelligence service raised concerns for the first time about the US in its annual threat assessment. It wrote: “The United States uses economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to enforce its will, and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies"
Danish Intelligence Report Raises Concerns About U.S.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Denmark’s military intelligence service raised concerns for the first time about the US in its annual threat assessment. It wrote: “The United States uses economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to enforce its will, and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies"
Reposted by Desiree Weber
And if you're a De La Soul fan, be sure to check out @austinmccoy.bsky.social's new book:
Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age
For fans of Dilla Time and The Chronicles of DOOM, a culturally connected celebration of the groundbreaking hip-hop group De La Soul, and how they ...
www.simonandschuster.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:05 PM
And if you're a De La Soul fan, be sure to check out @austinmccoy.bsky.social's new book:
Reposted by Desiree Weber
So apparently the administrators at Northwestern have caved to the extortionist demands of the Feds. Faculty voted 595-4 AGAINST this measure.
November 29, 2025 at 3:30 AM
So apparently the administrators at Northwestern have caved to the extortionist demands of the Feds. Faculty voted 595-4 AGAINST this measure.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Northwestern’s leaders will likely try to justify their choice to appease fascist extortion with some BS about needing to help researchers get federal funds that were illegally withheld, so it’s important to note that virtually all of the researchers said not to.
So apparently the administrators at Northwestern have caved to the extortionist demands of the Feds. Faculty voted 595-4 AGAINST this measure.
November 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Northwestern’s leaders will likely try to justify their choice to appease fascist extortion with some BS about needing to help researchers get federal funds that were illegally withheld, so it’s important to note that virtually all of the researchers said not to.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Reposted by Desiree Weber
There are two methods for cranberry harvest- wet method and dry method. Pictured is the ‘wet harvest’ method where the cranberry bog is flooded and the plants are shaken to dislodge the submerged berries, which float. (Fun fact: in a flooded bog the workers become high ground for the spiders.)
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
There are two methods for cranberry harvest- wet method and dry method. Pictured is the ‘wet harvest’ method where the cranberry bog is flooded and the plants are shaken to dislodge the submerged berries, which float. (Fun fact: in a flooded bog the workers become high ground for the spiders.)
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Reposted by Desiree Weber
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
NEW: The White House intervened in a DHS investigation.
The target? Sex offender Andrew Tate.
The WH person? Paul “Nazi Streak” Ingrassia.
Who was previously also Tate’s lawyer.
A banger from @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Shapiro
www.propublica.org/article/andr...
The target? Sex offender Andrew Tate.
The WH person? Paul “Nazi Streak” Ingrassia.
Who was previously also Tate’s lawyer.
A banger from @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Shapiro
www.propublica.org/article/andr...
November 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
NEW: The White House intervened in a DHS investigation.
The target? Sex offender Andrew Tate.
The WH person? Paul “Nazi Streak” Ingrassia.
Who was previously also Tate’s lawyer.
A banger from @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Shapiro
www.propublica.org/article/andr...
The target? Sex offender Andrew Tate.
The WH person? Paul “Nazi Streak” Ingrassia.
Who was previously also Tate’s lawyer.
A banger from @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Shapiro
www.propublica.org/article/andr...
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Happy 40th birthday to Bill Waterson’s ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. A work of consummate, stubborn, human, and more-than-human art.
November 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Happy 40th birthday to Bill Waterson’s ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. A work of consummate, stubborn, human, and more-than-human art.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
Of all my posts, this is the one that I wish would be shared widely. I hope people will donate to Bryan's legal defense, but even if you don't, it's important to be aware of the human rights horrors that are going on around us on a daily basis.
Please help Bryan, a decent and hardworking person who was just kidnapped off the street in DC. He has been in this country since he was a child. He has a business and a family. He does not deserve such shameful cruelty. Please share.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-bryan...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-bryan...
Donate to Help Bryan Fight for His Freedom, organized by Kira Tewalt
Help Bryan Fight for His Freedom
My name is Kira, and I’m asking for your help on… Kira Tewalt needs your support for Help Bryan Fight for His Freedom
www.gofundme.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Of all my posts, this is the one that I wish would be shared widely. I hope people will donate to Bryan's legal defense, but even if you don't, it's important to be aware of the human rights horrors that are going on around us on a daily basis.
Reposted by Desiree Weber
This piece makes it sound totally normal that the police gets to decide whether or not to "work with" Mamdani as mayor, and it continues, as nearly all the paper's coverage, to wield normative terms like "moderate" and left" in a prejudicial way. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/n...
The N.Y.P.D. Prepares for Mayor Mamdani and a New Era in Public Safety
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This piece makes it sound totally normal that the police gets to decide whether or not to "work with" Mamdani as mayor, and it continues, as nearly all the paper's coverage, to wield normative terms like "moderate" and left" in a prejudicial way. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/n...