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John Kaufman

@jfkauf.bsky.social

360 followers 420 following 680 posts

poet/essayist/adjunct professor, etc. Sometimes photographer. Native NYer. Currently WI. Opinions are mine alone.

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 8d

What do autocrats dread?

Nonviolent courage… 👇🎁

“Opposition figures need courage to unify and lead. Judges, business executives, lawyers and journalists need courage to withstand intimidation. Voters need courage to participate in elections, protest peacefully…”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | This Is What Autocrats Dread

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by John Kaufman

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reposted by John Kaufman

ACLU @aclu.org · 23h

The government has executed more people in 2025 than any year in over a decade — and there are five more executions scheduled over the next week.

Just a handful of states are responsible for these executions, and they’re increasingly out of step with public opinion.

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 18h

Good for MIT! Its humanistic principles still matter… academic freedom should never be compromised…

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 18h

Breaking: MIT just became the first university to reject an agreement that would trade support for the Trump admin's higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment.

"Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by John Kaufman

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 18h

An important concurrence by Justice Mungia of the Washington Supreme Court: "While we are bound by United States Supreme Court precedent, we are not bound to stay silent as to the underlying racism and prejudices that are woven into the very
fabric of those opinions...

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Reposted by John Kaufman

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 1d

🔺UPDATED: Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize — to fury of Trump’s team

Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize — to fury of Trump’s team

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by John Kaufman

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 1d

The Declaration of Independence is revered for its universalist language of freedom. But it also contains a derogatory indictment of Native Americans. On its 250th anniversary, the U.S. should reckon with this complex legacy, Ned Blackhaw argues:

How Native Nations Shaped the Revolution

The Founders were inspired—and threatened—by the independence and self-governance of nations like the Iroquois Confederacy.

bit.ly

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Reposted by John Kaufman

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 1d

On the left is how the White House reacted to the Nobel Peace Prize announcement.

On the right is what President Trump posted about Maria Corina Machado back in January, just two weeks before nominations closed for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Steven Cheung * B @StevenCheung47
X.com
President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives.
He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.
The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
+
Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!
MODA
6.14k ReTruths 23.9k Likes
1/9/25, 2:14 PM

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

“David Scheffer, an international law scholar said that in choosing Ms. Machado, the Nobel committee had “elevated a courageous hero of peacemaking — someone who works among her own people to protect them against repression and atrocity crimes in order to shape a more peaceful and democratic world.”

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

María Corina Machado, an opposition leader in Venezuela, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. She has been in hiding since the candidate she backed lost the 2024 election to President Nicolás Maduro — a vote that was widely seen as rigged. Here's what to know.

Who Is María Corina Machado, the Winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize?

Ms. Machado built one of Venezuela’s most important political movements, and lives in hiding from President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian government.

nyti.ms

Reposted by John Kaufman

TomSQC @thomassqc.bsky.social · 1d

"The interconnected stories in The Life of Violet blend comedy, satire and fantasy, celebrating a heroine who triumphs over sea monsters and stifling social traditions alike . . ."
This is really exciting. Nota Bene: The trio of stories is available now, published by PUP.

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 18d

Three lost Virginia Woolf stories, rediscovered. The Life of Violet is already making waves in @thetimes.com! Out on 7th October, this is one you won’t want to miss. Read more: www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

The story behind Virginia Woolf’s lost book: ‘It was magical’

Written in her twenties and released next month, The Life of Violet is a tribute to a mentor and early proof of Woolf’s desire to revolutionise fiction

www.thetimes.com

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

Nothing says “peace prize” like a Tomahawk missile…

Politico @politico.com · 1d

Trump really wants a Nobel Peace Prize.

Zelenskyy said he will lobby for Trump to win the award if he sends Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and helps broker a ceasefire with Russia.

Zelenskyy: If Trump gives us Tomahawks, we’ll lobby for Nobel Peace Prize

Long-range missiles and a ceasefire with Russia is all it would take for a nomination from Kyiv, Ukrainian leader says.

www.politico.eu

Reposted by John Kaufman

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

A look back at the novels and novellas of László Krasznahorkai, who has won the 2025 Nobel Prize for literature on.ft.com/3KMl5xT

László Krasznahorkai, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize for literature

The Hungarian author, described as a ‘great epic writer in the central European tradition’, won the Man Booker International Prize in 2015. We look back at the FT’s reviews of his novels and novellas

on.ft.com

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Reposted by John Kaufman

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 1d

Trump's Most Formidable Foe? Pope Leo is pressuring America's MAGA prelacy into action to oppose Trump's police state tactics against immigrants, and is aggressively replacing Republican bishops with new prelates who rigorously steer clear of partisan politics. At the same time,

Trump's Most Formidable Foe?

The Church rises.

open.substack.com

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

We still have this little thing called the “no establishment of religion” clause in the Constitution. Thank God (and the Founders!)

John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

“Interesting Times” indeed…

Theocracy? No thanks, Mr. Wilson…

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/o...

Opinion | He Believes America Should Be a Theocracy. He Says His Influence Is Growing.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by John Kaufman

PEN America @penamerica.bsky.social · 1d

PEN America congratulates Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai on winning the 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature. A master novelist with a singular style, Krasznahorkai’s novels buffet stories of the apocalypse with profound looks at humanity, art and beauty. www.npr.org/2025/10/08/n...

László Krasznahorkai wins 2025 Nobel Prize in literature

The Hungarian writer, known for his apocalyptic works, has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in literature. He joins the ranks of Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and Toni Morrison.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by John Kaufman

captimes.com @captimes.com · 3d

John Nichols: Orders Trump issued last month outlining plans for crackdowns on dissent are getting pushback from Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and other Democrats.

Opinion | Trump tries to silence critics of capitalism

John Nichols: Orders Trump issued last month outlining plans for crackdowns on dissent are getting pushback from Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and other Democrats.

captimes.com

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

🎁🎁🎁 👆👆👆 (gift read)

Reposted by John Kaufman

Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 2d

In which Harvard’s Enos & Levitsky call on Harvard to lead the way, coordinating with other universities in fight for academic freedom. Our civil institutions will need to learn that power is harnessed through coordination. Protecting oneself will never be enough.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

Harvard Must Take a Stand Against Trump’s Compact | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson

Harvard, rather than quietly pursuing its own appeasement strategy, should lead the way to preserve academic freedom and democracy.

www.thecrimson.com

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 1d

“…Krasznahorkai undertook military service but, he has said in interviews, deserted the army after being punished for insubordination. He then took on odd jobs — including playing piano in a jazz band — and studied Hungarian literature in Budapest.” 👇👇 #NobelPrize

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/b...

Nobel Prize in Literature Is Awarded to Laszlo Krasznahorkai

www.nytimes.com

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John Kaufman @jfkauf.bsky.social · 2d

The essential thing is to keep all protests nonviolent, to not be provoked into street battles…

Amanda Marcotte @amandamarcotte.bsky.social · 2d

This is why the people showing up in animal costumes for dance parties are doing it right.

Trump wants the image of violent confrontations. Give him frog costumes.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Opinion | Trump Is Not Afraid of Civil War. Neither Is Stephen Miller.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by John Kaufman

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 2d

I will never lose gratitude that late in my life, I ended up writing at a place where Thoreau once wrote. For a New England boy, that's a dream.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Autumnal Tints

“A great many, who have spent their lives in cities, and have never chanced to come into the country at this season, have never seen this, the flower, or rather the ripe fruit, of the year.”

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by John Kaufman

Hahrie Han @hahrie.bsky.social · 2d

Totally, completely flabbergasted. #MacFellow

hub.jhu.edu/2025/10/08/h...

Johns Hopkins political scientist Hahrie Han receives MacArthur genius grant

Han, who studies political organizing and collective action and who has led the university's SNF Agora Institute since 2019, among 22 individuals to receive coveted MacArthur Foundation recognition

hub.jhu.edu

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Reposted by John Kaufman

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 2d

Michigan Avenue right now.

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Reposted by John Kaufman

UkeeTube @ukeetube.bsky.social · 4d

This afternoon a small pod of Orca swam through the Ucluelet harbour then past the lighthouse. I missed them in the harbour but caught a few clips from the Wild Pacific Trail before they disappeared #Ucluelet #Tofino #VancouverIsland #killerwhales #PNW

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Reposted by John Kaufman

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 4d

Long before “A Room of One’s Own,” Virginia Woolf wrote a trio of fairy tales about a woman named Violet.

This early experimental fiction, rediscovered in 2018, is now being published for the first time, showing Woolf in a startling new light.

A lost work by Virginia Woolf will be published for the first time

The author’s early fiction, written in tribute to her friend Mary Violet Dickinson, shows her in a startling new light.

wapo.st

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