Janet D. Stemwedel
@docfreeride.bsky.social
Academic philosopher, lapsed chemist, occasional science writer, perpetual ethics booster. All views my own. (she/her)
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
And the other feeling that seems to be incredibly deep-seated and is especially touching is that if it is our bodies on the line that end up being brutalized in order fo something in this country to change then so be it.
January 16, 2026 at 6:50 PM
And the other feeling that seems to be incredibly deep-seated and is especially touching is that if it is our bodies on the line that end up being brutalized in order fo something in this country to change then so be it.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
I don’t have any answers nor do I know what to do, but the feeling on the ground seems to be that we will be out there defending our neighbors peacefully for as long as we need to. But the idea that it is the people bearing witness who need to be reminded to exercise restraint is laughable.
January 16, 2026 at 6:47 PM
I don’t have any answers nor do I know what to do, but the feeling on the ground seems to be that we will be out there defending our neighbors peacefully for as long as we need to. But the idea that it is the people bearing witness who need to be reminded to exercise restraint is laughable.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Things can certainly get worse, but this sense of indefinite siege to daily life because of unaccountable forces with a culture that is completely loyal to some dipshit makes people wonder if at least the military with a long-standing history might offer greater protection.
January 16, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Things can certainly get worse, but this sense of indefinite siege to daily life because of unaccountable forces with a culture that is completely loyal to some dipshit makes people wonder if at least the military with a long-standing history might offer greater protection.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
This is kind of what I feel like people on the outside aren’t quite getting when they wonder why people here are starting to think the Insurrection Act might not be worse. Are they going to kill us all? Military troops are very credibly more disciplined than the armed goons who are on the streets.
January 16, 2026 at 6:42 PM
This is kind of what I feel like people on the outside aren’t quite getting when they wonder why people here are starting to think the Insurrection Act might not be worse. Are they going to kill us all? Military troops are very credibly more disciplined than the armed goons who are on the streets.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
They are canceling youth sports across the city in Minneapolis this weekend because lawless masked armed federal paramilitaries are targeting the children and families.
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation has canceled youth sports because ICE is terrorizing our community
January 16, 2026 at 6:39 PM
They are canceling youth sports across the city in Minneapolis this weekend because lawless masked armed federal paramilitaries are targeting the children and families.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
This is madness. Absolute madness. It's Norm and The Parents vs the Federal Government
They are canceling youth sports across the city in Minneapolis this weekend because lawless masked armed federal paramilitaries are targeting the children and families.
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation has canceled youth sports because ICE is terrorizing our community
January 16, 2026 at 6:48 PM
This is madness. Absolute madness. It's Norm and The Parents vs the Federal Government
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
One of the most hilarious unintended side effects of the administration’s lies about “organized groups” is that the people I know who aren’t quite as plugged in are all like “wait, there are organized people out there! Awesome! Where do I join?”
January 16, 2026 at 5:44 PM
One of the most hilarious unintended side effects of the administration’s lies about “organized groups” is that the people I know who aren’t quite as plugged in are all like “wait, there are organized people out there! Awesome! Where do I join?”
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
NEWS: Canada just checkmated the United States.
Breaking with the U.S., Canada has struck a major deal with China: Ottawa will cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for dramatically lower tariffs on Canadian farm products.
Breaking with the U.S., Canada has struck a major deal with China: Ottawa will cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for dramatically lower tariffs on Canadian farm products.
January 16, 2026 at 6:20 PM
NEWS: Canada just checkmated the United States.
Breaking with the U.S., Canada has struck a major deal with China: Ottawa will cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for dramatically lower tariffs on Canadian farm products.
Breaking with the U.S., Canada has struck a major deal with China: Ottawa will cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for dramatically lower tariffs on Canadian farm products.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
@benjedwards.com this isn't a licensing deal! Wikimedia Enterprise charges for the "pipes," not the content, and the difference between the two is huge. This gets misreported constantly.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/w...
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/w...
Wikipedia will share content with AI firms in new licensing deals
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:45 PM
@benjedwards.com this isn't a licensing deal! Wikimedia Enterprise charges for the "pipes," not the content, and the difference between the two is huge. This gets misreported constantly.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/w...
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/w...
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
It’s a moral AND strategic failure to not hammer this @schumer.senate.gov
these are some pretty catastrophic approval numbers for ICE mom-murderers
they will not improve
they will not improve
January 16, 2026 at 3:48 PM
It’s a moral AND strategic failure to not hammer this @schumer.senate.gov
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
“Major historical dread meant something to me then, in that context, lifetimes ago, back in 2014 . . . It was an anticipatory dread of a history we had not yet lived.”
Welcome To This Class Part 2
Writing & Anger, Spring 2021
contingentmagazine.org
January 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM
“Major historical dread meant something to me then, in that context, lifetimes ago, back in 2014 . . . It was an anticipatory dread of a history we had not yet lived.”
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Gavin Newsom has never had a homeless, a working unhoused, or an affordable housing advocate on his podcast despite governing California.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
January 16, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Gavin Newsom has never had a homeless, a working unhoused, or an affordable housing advocate on his podcast despite governing California.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
The company that had to shut down 400 stores this month thinks incelposting is going to to bring customers back
January 16, 2026 at 7:33 AM
The company that had to shut down 400 stores this month thinks incelposting is going to to bring customers back
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Software is abstract, and people have a hard time thinking about abstract things.
Imagine all the software stuff you use were physical things. A hammer, a screwdriver, a plot of land. A bookcase.
Odds are, you're renting more of the stuff you use than any medieval serf did under feudalism.
Imagine all the software stuff you use were physical things. A hammer, a screwdriver, a plot of land. A bookcase.
Odds are, you're renting more of the stuff you use than any medieval serf did under feudalism.
January 15, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Software is abstract, and people have a hard time thinking about abstract things.
Imagine all the software stuff you use were physical things. A hammer, a screwdriver, a plot of land. A bookcase.
Odds are, you're renting more of the stuff you use than any medieval serf did under feudalism.
Imagine all the software stuff you use were physical things. A hammer, a screwdriver, a plot of land. A bookcase.
Odds are, you're renting more of the stuff you use than any medieval serf did under feudalism.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
What software stuff do you actually own, that is actually yours, versus stuff you are merely renting at the whim of a rich asshole?
How much of your computer-doing stuff is actually yours, in the sense that a serf's hammer or table actually belonged to him
How much of your computer-doing stuff is actually yours, in the sense that a serf's hammer or table actually belonged to him
January 15, 2026 at 9:12 PM
What software stuff do you actually own, that is actually yours, versus stuff you are merely renting at the whim of a rich asshole?
How much of your computer-doing stuff is actually yours, in the sense that a serf's hammer or table actually belonged to him
How much of your computer-doing stuff is actually yours, in the sense that a serf's hammer or table actually belonged to him
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
A medieval serf under feudalism might have had to rent land from a rich asshole, but like: they did own stuff.
More stuff than you do, if you think of software as concrete things instead of abstract things.
More stuff than you do, if you think of software as concrete things instead of abstract things.
January 15, 2026 at 9:06 PM
A medieval serf under feudalism might have had to rent land from a rich asshole, but like: they did own stuff.
More stuff than you do, if you think of software as concrete things instead of abstract things.
More stuff than you do, if you think of software as concrete things instead of abstract things.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
…I would appreciate if journalists would begin laughing uproariously followed by probing questioning when Regime officials & supporters say shit like this.
Kevin Hassett on Trump's 10% cap on credit card interest rates: "Our expectations is that it won't necessarily require legislation because there will be great new Trump Cards provided voluntarily by the banks."
January 16, 2026 at 2:49 PM
…I would appreciate if journalists would begin laughing uproariously followed by probing questioning when Regime officials & supporters say shit like this.
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
seeing corporate outlets repeatedly refer to ICE beating the shit out of protesters as “clashes” may be the thing that sends me over the edge
January 16, 2026 at 1:55 PM
seeing corporate outlets repeatedly refer to ICE beating the shit out of protesters as “clashes” may be the thing that sends me over the edge
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
We all made it to Whiskey Friday with Tony Dokoupil
January 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
We all made it to Whiskey Friday with Tony Dokoupil
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
The LUCE network has been *doing* protection work since the beginning and has a ton of trainings this weekend. If you are in MA save their number to your phone and consider getting trained. www.lucemass.org
LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA
www.lucemass.org
January 16, 2026 at 12:46 PM
The LUCE network has been *doing* protection work since the beginning and has a ton of trainings this weekend. If you are in MA save their number to your phone and consider getting trained. www.lucemass.org
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
wait I thought it was crucial for FREEDOM for bakeries & restaurants to discriminate against their customers
I remember when the height of SMALL BIDNESS HERO was not making wedding cakes for gay couples or not selling pizzas for gay weddings
www.foxbusiness.com/media/tennes...
I remember when the height of SMALL BIDNESS HERO was not making wedding cakes for gay couples or not selling pizzas for gay weddings
www.foxbusiness.com/media/tennes...
Tennessee pizza shop faces backlash after declining to cater same-sex wedding
A pizzeria in Tennessee was attacked online after it declined to cater a same-sex wedding. The business put out a statement asking the community "to extend grace and listen to one another."
www.foxbusiness.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:38 PM
wait I thought it was crucial for FREEDOM for bakeries & restaurants to discriminate against their customers
I remember when the height of SMALL BIDNESS HERO was not making wedding cakes for gay couples or not selling pizzas for gay weddings
www.foxbusiness.com/media/tennes...
I remember when the height of SMALL BIDNESS HERO was not making wedding cakes for gay couples or not selling pizzas for gay weddings
www.foxbusiness.com/media/tennes...
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
We need more of this stuff. “Why do they get to veto my first amendment rights “ is what we should always ask people who do this sea lioning bullshit
January 16, 2026 at 12:25 PM
We need more of this stuff. “Why do they get to veto my first amendment rights “ is what we should always ask people who do this sea lioning bullshit
Reposted by Janet D. Stemwedel
Look at this absolute queen
January 16, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Look at this absolute queen