David Humphrey
@hagured.bsky.social
Japanese media studies, digital studies, and STS. Author, ‘The Time of Laughter: Comedy and the Media Cultures of Japan’ (UMich, 2023) http://press.umich.edu/12233973. Motivational speaker on dystopias and the end of days. Opinions my own
Reposted by David Humphrey
You can’t tell me we have a functioning economic system when the richest man in human history is one of the most profoundly stupid people in human history
January 27, 2026 at 2:11 AM
You can’t tell me we have a functioning economic system when the richest man in human history is one of the most profoundly stupid people in human history
Reposted by David Humphrey
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
January 30, 2026 at 8:14 PM
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
Reposted by David Humphrey
One of the reasons this is so under-appreciated is that our university presidents have been & continue to be almost totally absent from the public square in loudly & collectively condemning this existential assault on our institutions & our industry coming from the far right authoritarian party.
one of the least-appreciated own-goals happening right now is the deliberate sabotage of our knowledge/research sector www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Texas Halts Hiring of H-1B Workers at State Colleges, Agencies
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies and public universities to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions, curtailing a program that has also been overhauled by President Donald Trump.
www.bloomberg.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:20 PM
One of the reasons this is so under-appreciated is that our university presidents have been & continue to be almost totally absent from the public square in loudly & collectively condemning this existential assault on our institutions & our industry coming from the far right authoritarian party.
Reposted by David Humphrey
"U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office. A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies" www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 27, 2026 at 11:13 AM
"U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office. A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies" www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by David Humphrey
I have said a few times that it is no coincidence that the wave of “institutional neutrality” statements started showing up when they did. Too many universities fell for a very long game that now makes them complicit with fascism and, apparently, unable or unwilling to take a stand against it.
Opinion | My fellow university presidents have just been shown how to stand up to Trump
Michael Roth: This moment requires more bravery from higher education leaders
www.ms.now
January 26, 2026 at 3:33 AM
I have said a few times that it is no coincidence that the wave of “institutional neutrality” statements started showing up when they did. Too many universities fell for a very long game that now makes them complicit with fascism and, apparently, unable or unwilling to take a stand against it.
Reposted by David Humphrey
New: Amid the escalating situation in Minneapolis, ICE posted in the Federal Register asking companies to provide info about “commercial Big Data and Ad Tech” products that would “directly support investigations activities”
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
ICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations
A new federal filing from ICE demonstrates how commercial tools are increasingly being considered by the government for law enforcement and surveillance.
www.wired.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:42 PM
New: Amid the escalating situation in Minneapolis, ICE posted in the Federal Register asking companies to provide info about “commercial Big Data and Ad Tech” products that would “directly support investigations activities”
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
Reposted by David Humphrey
Your periodic reminder that a national data privacy bill came out of bipartisan committee when Dems controlled Washington DC and they BLEW IT. So now we have a fascist federal government openly soliciting adtech and data brokers for oppressive surveillance products.
New: Amid the escalating situation in Minneapolis, ICE posted in the Federal Register asking companies to provide info about “commercial Big Data and Ad Tech” products that would “directly support investigations activities”
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
www.wired.com/story/ice-as...
ICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations
A new federal filing from ICE demonstrates how commercial tools are increasingly being considered by the government for law enforcement and surveillance.
www.wired.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Your periodic reminder that a national data privacy bill came out of bipartisan committee when Dems controlled Washington DC and they BLEW IT. So now we have a fascist federal government openly soliciting adtech and data brokers for oppressive surveillance products.
Karp's definitely an example of one we humanists messed up on big time, but not in the way he thinks
Palantir CEO says AI ‘will destroy’ humanities jobs but there will be ‘more than enough jobs’ for people with vocational training
finance.yahoo.com/news/palanti...
finance.yahoo.com/news/palanti...
Palantir CEO says AI ‘will destroy’ humanities jobs but there will be ‘more than enough jobs’ for people with vocational training
Alex Karp said he struggled to market his humanities skills to get his first job.
finance.yahoo.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Karp's definitely an example of one we humanists messed up on big time, but not in the way he thinks
Reposted by David Humphrey
So all colleges and universities will bring back the DEI stuff they cut when obeying in advance right...............................................................................................................................................right?
Re the February Dear Colleagues letter that threatened funding for schools & universities over DEI-related efforts:
‘[Ed Dept]…moved to dismiss its appeal. It leaves in place a federal judge’s August decision finding that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment & federal procedural rules.’
‘[Ed Dept]…moved to dismiss its appeal. It leaves in place a federal judge’s August decision finding that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment & federal procedural rules.’
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges
The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:42 PM
So all colleges and universities will bring back the DEI stuff they cut when obeying in advance right...............................................................................................................................................right?
Reposted by David Humphrey
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
Reposted by David Humphrey
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
January 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
Reposted by David Humphrey
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
Reposted by David Humphrey
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
Reposted by David Humphrey
Also a reminder: a number of graduate programs at MSU have suspended intake for the coming fall, including 21 in the College of Arts and Letters.
Yet another reminder that the very best job in this world is failed college football coach.
November 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Also a reminder: a number of graduate programs at MSU have suspended intake for the coming fall, including 21 in the College of Arts and Letters.
Reposted by David Humphrey
I have a chapter on Japan's TVer in this new volume on East Asian platforms and media, edited by Dal Yong Jin and Kyong Yoon. Lots of great work here by @guobin-yang.bsky.social, @hlynn5.bsky.social, @otomedoctor.bsky.social, and others.
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
East Asian Media Culture in the Age of Digital Platforms | Narratives,
Focusing on the convergence of popular culture and digital platforms in the East Asian context, this book delves into the increasing role of East Asia, not only
doi.org
September 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I have a chapter on Japan's TVer in this new volume on East Asian platforms and media, edited by Dal Yong Jin and Kyong Yoon. Lots of great work here by @guobin-yang.bsky.social, @hlynn5.bsky.social, @otomedoctor.bsky.social, and others.
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
Reposted by David Humphrey
If you think Tylenol is bad for children’s health what until you see what guns do.
September 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
If you think Tylenol is bad for children’s health what until you see what guns do.
Reposted by David Humphrey
this exists it is called thinking
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
this exists it is called thinking
Reposted by David Humphrey
i don’t think people on bluesky understand the severity of this situation.
i woke up to literally hundreds of texts from friends and family thinking about either moving back home to india or applying to other countries for jobs. this includes me.
i woke up to literally hundreds of texts from friends and family thinking about either moving back home to india or applying to other countries for jobs. this includes me.
Those on an H1B cannot return to the US from tomorrow (Sunday) unless paying $100K. This is an out-of-the blue presidential action. We’ll see software engineers stranded abroad.
One easy to predict outcome: those on US visas will travel less… for work, for conferences etc.
One easy to predict outcome: those on US visas will travel less… for work, for conferences etc.
September 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
i don’t think people on bluesky understand the severity of this situation.
i woke up to literally hundreds of texts from friends and family thinking about either moving back home to india or applying to other countries for jobs. this includes me.
i woke up to literally hundreds of texts from friends and family thinking about either moving back home to india or applying to other countries for jobs. this includes me.
Reposted by David Humphrey
“There is no comparable requirement for boys to confirm their gender,” said another parent. “Once again, the onus is placed on girls to be monitored and regulated, reinforcing the idea that female athletes are the ones who need to be verified.”
Fewer girls are playing sports after govt erected barriers for girls to play sports.
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Early dropoff in girls' school sports linked to new gender confirmation forms
Province's new requirements are already having impacts on girls' sports in junior high
edmontonjournal.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
“There is no comparable requirement for boys to confirm their gender,” said another parent. “Once again, the onus is placed on girls to be monitored and regulated, reinforcing the idea that female athletes are the ones who need to be verified.”
Reposted by David Humphrey
As you cancel streaming services, here is a casual reminder that only 16% of Americans read for pleasure anymore, and your local library has hundreds or thousands of books you haven't read.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
September 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
As you cancel streaming services, here is a casual reminder that only 16% of Americans read for pleasure anymore, and your local library has hundreds or thousands of books you haven't read.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
They would love to see you stop by and renew your library card.
Reposted by David Humphrey
The regressive party strikes again.
I don't believe in evil as an entity. But making children suffer needlessly is about the closest thing to evil I know.
I don't believe in evil as an entity. But making children suffer needlessly is about the closest thing to evil I know.
JUST IN: Vaccine advisers to the CDC have voted to recommended against using the combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine for children under 4. https://cnn.it/3K73pNn
September 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The regressive party strikes again.
I don't believe in evil as an entity. But making children suffer needlessly is about the closest thing to evil I know.
I don't believe in evil as an entity. But making children suffer needlessly is about the closest thing to evil I know.
Reposted by David Humphrey
This is it.
Cancel culture, but for real. The Twitter Files, but for real. Actual, unadulterated collusion between the government and media-owning corporations to censor Americans.
Shame on the MAGA libertarians and fake-heterodox civility cops who helped pave this road to authoritarianism.
Cancel culture, but for real. The Twitter Files, but for real. Actual, unadulterated collusion between the government and media-owning corporations to censor Americans.
Shame on the MAGA libertarians and fake-heterodox civility cops who helped pave this road to authoritarianism.
September 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
This is it.
Cancel culture, but for real. The Twitter Files, but for real. Actual, unadulterated collusion between the government and media-owning corporations to censor Americans.
Shame on the MAGA libertarians and fake-heterodox civility cops who helped pave this road to authoritarianism.
Cancel culture, but for real. The Twitter Files, but for real. Actual, unadulterated collusion between the government and media-owning corporations to censor Americans.
Shame on the MAGA libertarians and fake-heterodox civility cops who helped pave this road to authoritarianism.
Reposted by David Humphrey
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
July 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.