Eric Knowles
@ericdknowles.bsky.social
Social and political psychologist. NYU professor. Music appreciator. Californian in Manhattan.
One demagogic similarity between today's GOP & the mob that razed Black Wall Street is that both instrumentalize White women to justify violence: Tulsa was fueled by alleged crimes against Sarah Page; the GOP inflames anti-migrant animus via the murder of Laken Riley
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
One demagogic similarity between today's GOP & the mob that razed Black Wall Street is that both instrumentalize White women to justify violence: Tulsa was fueled by alleged crimes against Sarah Page; the GOP inflames anti-migrant animus via the murder of Laken Riley
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Then that should be the thesis, not "it's all Roberts' fault".
And, yes, I know people other than authors write the headlines. If that's the case here, then that's who I'm complaining about.
And, yes, I know people other than authors write the headlines. If that's the case here, then that's who I'm complaining about.
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Then that should be the thesis, not "it's all Roberts' fault".
And, yes, I know people other than authors write the headlines. If that's the case here, then that's who I'm complaining about.
And, yes, I know people other than authors write the headlines. If that's the case here, then that's who I'm complaining about.
I have a reflexive distaste for this kind of hyperbole. Trump doesn't owe his reign to any one person; no one person was either singly sufficient nor singly necessary for what we're seeing. It was a team effort.
"The Roberts court has spent Trump’s second term not applying the law so much as clearing it out of his way." 🎯
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I have a reflexive distaste for this kind of hyperbole. Trump doesn't owe his reign to any one person; no one person was either singly sufficient nor singly necessary for what we're seeing. It was a team effort.
Bottle these expressions.
November 23, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Bottle these expressions.
Reposted by Eric Knowles
EXCLUSIVE: Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Admin for Communications With Anti-Palestinian Groups
Khalil is seeking all communications between the Trump administration and outside pro-Israel doxxing groups like Canary Mission, writes @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/mahmoud-kh...
Khalil is seeking all communications between the Trump administration and outside pro-Israel doxxing groups like Canary Mission, writes @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/mahmoud-kh...
EXCLUSIVE: Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Admin for Communications With Anti-Palestinian Groups
Khalil is seeking all communications between the Trump administration and outside pro-Israel doxxing groups like Canary Mission.
zeteo.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Admin for Communications With Anti-Palestinian Groups
Khalil is seeking all communications between the Trump administration and outside pro-Israel doxxing groups like Canary Mission, writes @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/mahmoud-kh...
Khalil is seeking all communications between the Trump administration and outside pro-Israel doxxing groups like Canary Mission, writes @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/mahmoud-kh...
Trump is ~15% in the hole. Happy Friday!
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Trump is ~15% in the hole. Happy Friday!
There is a ridiculous amount of signal in this graph.
During one of the darkest times for American democracy, the richest Americans **like what they're seeing**
During one of the darkest times for American democracy, the richest Americans **like what they're seeing**
The partisan divide has grown, too. The wealthiest 100 tended to give more to Republicans than to Democrats before last year. But giving to the GOP spiked in 2024, with *84%* of donations going to back Republicans or conservative PACs.
November 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
There is a ridiculous amount of signal in this graph.
During one of the darkest times for American democracy, the richest Americans **like what they're seeing**
During one of the darkest times for American democracy, the richest Americans **like what they're seeing**
I can't read "Curd Tart" without spoonerizing it into "Turd Cart." I really just can't.
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I can't read "Curd Tart" without spoonerizing it into "Turd Cart." I really just can't.
In case you’re wondering, this was during Trump 1.0. We were both teaching January Term at NYU Abu Dhabi. It was surreal.
November 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
In case you’re wondering, this was during Trump 1.0. We were both teaching January Term at NYU Abu Dhabi. It was surreal.
Frank Luntz once chided me for commenting on Stephen Miller’s dead eyes. I’d observed that “Miller has the soulless eyes of a kidnapper.” Frank told me that I “shouldn’t judge people by appearance.” I felt bad. (Imagine feeling shamed by a merc like Luntz! I am weird.) But good lord was I right.
November 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Frank Luntz once chided me for commenting on Stephen Miller’s dead eyes. I’d observed that “Miller has the soulless eyes of a kidnapper.” Frank told me that I “shouldn’t judge people by appearance.” I felt bad. (Imagine feeling shamed by a merc like Luntz! I am weird.) But good lord was I right.
Since Trump 2.0, AFFLUENT Americans’ wages have recovered: They’re growing faster than inflation for the first time since Covid.
Low-income Americans? Their wages *had* been keeping pace with inflation. Now, after Trumps’s tariffs and other bullshit, they lag behind.
Reagan is smiling up at us.
Low-income Americans? Their wages *had* been keeping pace with inflation. Now, after Trumps’s tariffs and other bullshit, they lag behind.
Reagan is smiling up at us.
November 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Since Trump 2.0, AFFLUENT Americans’ wages have recovered: They’re growing faster than inflation for the first time since Covid.
Low-income Americans? Their wages *had* been keeping pace with inflation. Now, after Trumps’s tariffs and other bullshit, they lag behind.
Reagan is smiling up at us.
Low-income Americans? Their wages *had* been keeping pace with inflation. Now, after Trumps’s tariffs and other bullshit, they lag behind.
Reagan is smiling up at us.
Reposted by Eric Knowles
Zohran Mamdani doesn’t make me, an American Jew, feel unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Zohran Mamdani doesn’t make me, an American Jew, feel unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Reposted by Eric Knowles
also let’s talk about the double standard applied to the wide variety of things called “divisive”
crt is divisive therefore we must conduct witch hunts at schools to root it out
swastikas are merely divisive, why should we do anything all when we see one
crt is divisive therefore we must conduct witch hunts at schools to root it out
swastikas are merely divisive, why should we do anything all when we see one
This is fucking horrifying.
Swastikas and nooses are just “potentially divisive”? Are you kidding me?
Swastikas and nooses are just “potentially divisive”? Are you kidding me?
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
also let’s talk about the double standard applied to the wide variety of things called “divisive”
crt is divisive therefore we must conduct witch hunts at schools to root it out
swastikas are merely divisive, why should we do anything all when we see one
crt is divisive therefore we must conduct witch hunts at schools to root it out
swastikas are merely divisive, why should we do anything all when we see one
Reposted by Eric Knowles
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
November 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
I want to be reincarnated as Patti Smith.
Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Opinion | Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I want to be reincarnated as Patti Smith.
Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Once upon a time, I felt the need to credit Musk for advancing EVs—and I wasn’t alone on the left! Imagine sacrificing all that goodwill (or at least forbearance) because you’re racist, insecure, and have a pathological need to be popular. The man is corrosive and must be mercilessly shunned.
French authorities are taking X to court because Grok is now doing straight up holocaust denial. Gas chambers intended for disinfection, cyanide residue tiny, ‘story’ persists because of taboo against critical examination. (Full translation in alt text)
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Once upon a time, I felt the need to credit Musk for advancing EVs—and I wasn’t alone on the left! Imagine sacrificing all that goodwill (or at least forbearance) because you’re racist, insecure, and have a pathological need to be popular. The man is corrosive and must be mercilessly shunned.
Reposted by Eric Knowles
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
Yeah, but that was just practice.
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Yeah, but that was just practice.
People tend to draw one of two moral lessons from the Holocaust: either "never again to the Jewish people" or "never again to anyone." Hurwitz laments that the visibility of Palestinian suffering is causing children to choose the latter, universalistic lesson. I find this argument ... remarkable.
I'm struck by this clip of former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz saying Holocaust education has backfired in part because people Palestinians as victims: "They think the lesson of the Holocaust is…you fight the big powerful people hurting the weak people."
www.reddit.com/r/JewsOfCons...
www.reddit.com/r/JewsOfCons...
From the JewsOfConscience community on Reddit: Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz speaking to the Jewish Federation and lamenting that young people are learning the wrong lessons from Holocaust e...
Explore this post and more from the JewsOfConscience community
www.reddit.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
People tend to draw one of two moral lessons from the Holocaust: either "never again to the Jewish people" or "never again to anyone." Hurwitz laments that the visibility of Palestinian suffering is causing children to choose the latter, universalistic lesson. I find this argument ... remarkable.
Looks increasingly likely that MAGA will get crushed at the polls in 2028. But can you imagine this movement giving up power peacefully? I can't.
November 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Looks increasingly likely that MAGA will get crushed at the polls in 2028. But can you imagine this movement giving up power peacefully? I can't.
Reposted by Eric Knowles
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
It’s so achingly clear that this regime‘s answer to DEI is a record-breaking level of incompetence.
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
It’s so achingly clear that this regime‘s answer to DEI is a record-breaking level of incompetence.
Davis Taffler, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation. IYKYK.
November 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Davis Taffler, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation. IYKYK.
I used to bop between Safari and Chrome depending on the task. Now Chrome seems buggy and resource-hoggy. What gives? Anyone else had this experience?
November 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I used to bop between Safari and Chrome depending on the task. Now Chrome seems buggy and resource-hoggy. What gives? Anyone else had this experience?
Reposted by Eric Knowles
Instead of the Nuzzi shit, let's focus on the fact that apparently Johnny Knoxville got married this past weekend, the wedding was officiated by John Waters, and a dog was involved
November 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Instead of the Nuzzi shit, let's focus on the fact that apparently Johnny Knoxville got married this past weekend, the wedding was officiated by John Waters, and a dog was involved