Leigh M. Johnson
@drleighmjohnson.bsky.social
Memphian (now in DC), philosopher, raconteuse, and co-host of Hotel Bar Sessions podcast (@hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social). I love arguments.
www.drleighmjohnson.com
www.hotelbarpodcast.com
www.drleighmjohnson.com
www.hotelbarpodcast.com
Just a heads up for @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social listeners that the episode we'll be dropping this Friday, "Quiet Resistance (with Tamara Fakhoury)," is a MUST LISTEN for anyone interested in how Palestinians are navigating Israeli oppression in their day-to-day lives.
November 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Just a heads up for @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social listeners that the episode we'll be dropping this Friday, "Quiet Resistance (with Tamara Fakhoury)," is a MUST LISTEN for anyone interested in how Palestinians are navigating Israeli oppression in their day-to-day lives.
Today, from the "Fascinating and Weird" File:
neurosciencenews.com/brain-aging-...
neurosciencenews.com/brain-aging-...
Your Brain Quietly Rewires Itself at 9, 32, 66 and 83 - Neuroscience News
Researchers identified five major phases of human brain wiring that unfold from birth to old age, marked by four major turning points at ages 9, 32, 66, and 83.
neurosciencenews.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Today, from the "Fascinating and Weird" File:
neurosciencenews.com/brain-aging-...
neurosciencenews.com/brain-aging-...
Hermeneutics.
November 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Hermeneutics.
I've decided to stay DC for Thanksgiving, so if anyone has an extra seat at their table, I make a mean green bean casserole.
November 20, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I've decided to stay DC for Thanksgiving, so if anyone has an extra seat at their table, I make a mean green bean casserole.
“What we have isn’t peace. What we have is a continuing genocide, albeit one that has shifted gears and has—for now—moved into the slow lane.”
www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
After the Genocide, the Genocide | Saree Makdisi
As the Western media and politicians breathlessly celebrated the return of the final Israeli prisoners, a number of them soldiers captured in combat, Israel began returning hundreds of captives it had...
www.nplusonemag.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:17 AM
“What we have isn’t peace. What we have is a continuing genocide, albeit one that has shifted gears and has—for now—moved into the slow lane.”
www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
International students unquestionably make my classes better, bringing new perspectives and insights that enrich our discussions.
The White House just blasted this out under the headline "Good News You May Have Missed"
November 20, 2025 at 1:06 AM
International students unquestionably make my classes better, bringing new perspectives and insights that enrich our discussions.
Wonder why?
jk, I don't wonder
jk, I don't wonder
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Wonder why?
jk, I don't wonder
jk, I don't wonder
Yikes. "Free speech" in America:
November 18, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Yikes. "Free speech" in America:
November 18, 2025 at 2:31 AM
This was such a great conversation. Definitely check it out!
ICYMI: Our conversation with Laura K. Field about her recent book *Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right* is now live on our YouTube channel!
@drleighmjohnson.bsky.social @jenhkling.bsky.social
@philosophymatters.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixa...
@drleighmjohnson.bsky.social @jenhkling.bsky.social
@philosophymatters.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixa...
Episode 204: Furious Minds (with Laura K. Field)
YouTube video by Hotel Bar Sessions podcast
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 AM
This was such a great conversation. Definitely check it out!
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
We are, for real, living in a house of mirrors.
JD Vance: "Democrats' idea was the way you get more prosperity is that you import more and more low wage servants."
November 14, 2025 at 2:35 AM
We are, for real, living in a house of mirrors.
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
This week, @drleighmjohnson.bsky.social, @philosophymatters.bsky.social, and I discuss imagination with our guest, Dr. Stephen Asma. Although I ask a lot of questions in this episode, I think Asma has a point that we need to focus more on imagination, especially as we look to the future!
Episode 203: Imagination (with Stephen T. Asma) - Hotel Bar Podcast
How can we recover not only the power, but the importance, of imagination for philosophy?
hotelbarpodcast.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 AM
This week, @drleighmjohnson.bsky.social, @philosophymatters.bsky.social, and I discuss imagination with our guest, Dr. Stephen Asma. Although I ask a lot of questions in this episode, I think Asma has a point that we need to focus more on imagination, especially as we look to the future!
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
Episode 203 is live and we've got a guest with us! Check out our fanciful conversation with Stephen T. Asma about imagination!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/imag...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/imag...
Episode 203: Imagination (with Stephen T. Asma) - Hotel Bar Podcast
How can we recover not only the power, but the importance, of imagination for philosophy?
hotelbarpodcast.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Episode 203 is live and we've got a guest with us! Check out our fanciful conversation with Stephen T. Asma about imagination!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/imag...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/imag...
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
This is a lie. Trans people are not a "risk" to cis women.
The only women put at risk by the continued pursuit of bigotry are trans women.
That's what they want. And when they've got you to accept that persecution, they'll come for abortion, & equal marriage, & contraception, & divorce...
The only women put at risk by the continued pursuit of bigotry are trans women.
That's what they want. And when they've got you to accept that persecution, they'll come for abortion, & equal marriage, & contraception, & divorce...
Claire Coutinho writing in the Times today that "Every day of delay over the guidance puts women at risk"
November 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
This is a lie. Trans people are not a "risk" to cis women.
The only women put at risk by the continued pursuit of bigotry are trans women.
That's what they want. And when they've got you to accept that persecution, they'll come for abortion, & equal marriage, & contraception, & divorce...
The only women put at risk by the continued pursuit of bigotry are trans women.
That's what they want. And when they've got you to accept that persecution, they'll come for abortion, & equal marriage, & contraception, & divorce...
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
Jeffries and the Democratic establishment are so unbelievably disconnected from the moment and how the tides are turning.
The answer to this question should be nothing other than an unequivocal, “Yes, Zohran Mamdani is not only the future of the Democratic Party, he’s the future of our democracy.”
The answer to this question should be nothing other than an unequivocal, “Yes, Zohran Mamdani is not only the future of the Democratic Party, he’s the future of our democracy.”
Hakeem Jeffries says Zohran Mamdani is not the future of the Democratic Party.
November 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Jeffries and the Democratic establishment are so unbelievably disconnected from the moment and how the tides are turning.
The answer to this question should be nothing other than an unequivocal, “Yes, Zohran Mamdani is not only the future of the Democratic Party, he’s the future of our democracy.”
The answer to this question should be nothing other than an unequivocal, “Yes, Zohran Mamdani is not only the future of the Democratic Party, he’s the future of our democracy.”
I can no longer exist without a guitar in my house.
I had to sell all but one of my guitars to afford the move to DC, but I left my last one In Memphis at a friend's house.
Anyone who wants to send me a guitar and/or ship mine to me will be rewarded with a bespoke song that I write for you.
I had to sell all but one of my guitars to afford the move to DC, but I left my last one In Memphis at a friend's house.
Anyone who wants to send me a guitar and/or ship mine to me will be rewarded with a bespoke song that I write for you.
November 3, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I can no longer exist without a guitar in my house.
I had to sell all but one of my guitars to afford the move to DC, but I left my last one In Memphis at a friend's house.
Anyone who wants to send me a guitar and/or ship mine to me will be rewarded with a bespoke song that I write for you.
I had to sell all but one of my guitars to afford the move to DC, but I left my last one In Memphis at a friend's house.
Anyone who wants to send me a guitar and/or ship mine to me will be rewarded with a bespoke song that I write for you.
Before moving to my new place in DC, I honestly can't remember the last time (if ever) I had a garbage disposal. So, by habit, I regularly still scrape leftover food into my garbage can...
November 3, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Before moving to my new place in DC, I honestly can't remember the last time (if ever) I had a garbage disposal. So, by habit, I regularly still scrape leftover food into my garbage can...
Happy Halloween, y'all. We should do this every month!
November 1, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Happy Halloween, y'all. We should do this every month!
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
We're really excited about our new line-up of HBS co-hosts @drleighmjohnson.bsky.social, @jenhkling.bsky.social, and @philosophymatters.bsky.social!
If you haven't yet signed up to support Hotel Bar Sessions podcast on Patreon, no time like the present to do so!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
If you haven't yet signed up to support Hotel Bar Sessions podcast on Patreon, no time like the present to do so!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
Hotel Bar Sessions | Patreon
creating a podcast where the real philosophy happens
www.patreon.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:14 AM
We're really excited about our new line-up of HBS co-hosts @drleighmjohnson.bsky.social, @jenhkling.bsky.social, and @philosophymatters.bsky.social!
If you haven't yet signed up to support Hotel Bar Sessions podcast on Patreon, no time like the present to do so!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
If you haven't yet signed up to support Hotel Bar Sessions podcast on Patreon, no time like the present to do so!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
My best Halloween costumes: Fred Flintstone in 2015 and Alfalfa in 2010:
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 AM
My best Halloween costumes: Fred Flintstone in 2015 and Alfalfa in 2010:
Flashback to 2015, when I walked into my classroom on Halloween and one of my students was sitting in the back corner seat as pictured.
I am still haunted by this.
I am still haunted by this.
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Flashback to 2015, when I walked into my classroom on Halloween and one of my students was sitting in the back corner seat as pictured.
I am still haunted by this.
I am still haunted by this.
Great to catch up with (and learn more from) my old @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social co-host and friend, David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social at American University's McDowell Conference on AI yesterday!
October 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Great to catch up with (and learn more from) my old @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social co-host and friend, David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social at American University's McDowell Conference on AI yesterday!