Jon Shaffer
@jonshaffer.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Sociology @UVM | STS | Med Soc | Social Movements | Previously Post-doc @BermanInstitute, Partners In Health
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=b_foLf8AAAAJ&hl=en
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=b_foLf8AAAAJ&hl=en
Pinned
Jon Shaffer
@jonshaffer.bsky.social
· Sep 23
From Evidence to Power: Organizing for Public Health with Jon Shaffer, PhD
Sociologist–organizer Jon Shaffer, PhD, joins Infectious Dose to explain why organizing—not just evidence—wins public-health protections, how DPH is building state teams, and what you can do next.
www.infectiousdose.com
Public health people have to get themselves organized to fight back, otherwise we're toast.
If we don't, the eugenic madness coming from Trump, RFK Jr., Oz, etc is going to kill lots of people.
Here I share some thoughts about how we can start to organize: www.infectiousdose.com/post/from-ev...
If we don't, the eugenic madness coming from Trump, RFK Jr., Oz, etc is going to kill lots of people.
Here I share some thoughts about how we can start to organize: www.infectiousdose.com/post/from-ev...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
I really fear that is all going to end so badly for all involved.
November 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I really fear that is all going to end so badly for all involved.
This is utter nonsense and will be used by the White House to produce bullshit 'evidence' to attempt to justify fascist policy in all domains of social life.
Ok so.
"The Genesis Mission will build an integrated AI platform to harness Federal scientific datasets — the world’s largest collection ... — to train scientific foundation models and create AI agents to test new hypotheses, automate research workflows, and accelerate scientific breakthroughs."
"The Genesis Mission will build an integrated AI platform to harness Federal scientific datasets — the world’s largest collection ... — to train scientific foundation models and create AI agents to test new hypotheses, automate research workflows, and accelerate scientific breakthroughs."
"the president has directed the Department of Energy to launch an AI project called the genesis mission" sounds like something out of a technothriller
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
November 25, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This is utter nonsense and will be used by the White House to produce bullshit 'evidence' to attempt to justify fascist policy in all domains of social life.
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Northeastern University is hiring an Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media. The tenure home would be either Communication Studies or Journalism, with a joint appointment with the policy school. Please apply and be my colleague :)
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media
About the Opportunity About the Opportunity The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media, ...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Northeastern University is hiring an Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media. The tenure home would be either Communication Studies or Journalism, with a joint appointment with the policy school. Please apply and be my colleague :)
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
This is a deeply sexist take, given that ~2/3 of minimum wage workers in the US are women.
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This is a deeply sexist take, given that ~2/3 of minimum wage workers in the US are women.
Love to see multiple wonderful sociologists joining Mamdani’s transition team!
Saw that Ruha Benjamin and Alondra Nelson will be a part of it. Are there others?
Saw that Ruha Benjamin and Alondra Nelson will be a part of it. Are there others?
I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC.
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Love to see multiple wonderful sociologists joining Mamdani’s transition team!
Saw that Ruha Benjamin and Alondra Nelson will be a part of it. Are there others?
Saw that Ruha Benjamin and Alondra Nelson will be a part of it. Are there others?
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Congrats, Rand Paul, you’ve invented health insurance companies.
Rand Paul: "What is the Republican plan for healthcare? My plan would allow for people to buy their insurance through a collective. Basically to buy their insurance through Costco or Sam's Club or Amazon."
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Congrats, Rand Paul, you’ve invented health insurance companies.
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
November 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
it's so funny to watch the far right White House press pool try to bait Trump to say something nasty about Mamdani and every time he's just like "nah this guy rocks"
November 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
it's so funny to watch the far right White House press pool try to bait Trump to say something nasty about Mamdani and every time he's just like "nah this guy rocks"
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Democrats busy tearing out some duct tape and sticking big signs on their backs reading: "PRIMARY ME"
BREAKING: The House of Representatives voted 285–98 in favor of a resolution condemning socialism.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Democrats busy tearing out some duct tape and sticking big signs on their backs reading: "PRIMARY ME"
Stupid and destructive.
November 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Stupid and destructive.
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Resisting GenAI and Big Tech in Higher Education - Tuesday 25th Nov, free registration, great panel, big focus on climate justice. Register here: lmula.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
November 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Resisting GenAI and Big Tech in Higher Education - Tuesday 25th Nov, free registration, great panel, big focus on climate justice. Register here: lmula.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Defend Public Health - Michigan in the local news!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewVF...
@defendpublichealth.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewVF...
@defendpublichealth.bsky.social
Group 'Defend Public Health' pleading to Whitmer
YouTube video by WLNS 6 News
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Defend Public Health - Michigan in the local news!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewVF...
@defendpublichealth.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewVF...
@defendpublichealth.bsky.social
Capital-driven health care provision/financing was extractive before.
It's about to become hyper-predatory.
With no other options most will face the "your money, or your life" choice as @lukemessac.bsky.social writes about in his history of medical debt.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/b...
It's about to become hyper-predatory.
With no other options most will face the "your money, or your life" choice as @lukemessac.bsky.social writes about in his history of medical debt.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/b...
More than 12 percent of Mass. residents have medical debt, and the number ‘will only grow’ amid federal cuts - The Boston Globe
The vast majority of those people were insured when bills started to pile up, according to a new report released by a state agency.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Capital-driven health care provision/financing was extractive before.
It's about to become hyper-predatory.
With no other options most will face the "your money, or your life" choice as @lukemessac.bsky.social writes about in his history of medical debt.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/b...
It's about to become hyper-predatory.
With no other options most will face the "your money, or your life" choice as @lukemessac.bsky.social writes about in his history of medical debt.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/20/b...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Musk’s ability to manipulate this thing into an anti-Semitism and flattery machine is surely the best pragmatic evidence possible that they are not useful research tools.
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
November 21, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Musk’s ability to manipulate this thing into an anti-Semitism and flattery machine is surely the best pragmatic evidence possible that they are not useful research tools.
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
www.nature.com/collections/...
Call for Papers, due April 30, 2026
"Reframing artificial intelligence: critical perspectives from AI social science"
Call for Papers, due April 30, 2026
"Reframing artificial intelligence: critical perspectives from AI social science"
Reframing artificial intelligence: critical perspectives from AI social science
To untangle the links between technological and social forces, this Collection invites social science perspectives to advance the study of AI’s ...
www.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
www.nature.com/collections/...
Call for Papers, due April 30, 2026
"Reframing artificial intelligence: critical perspectives from AI social science"
Call for Papers, due April 30, 2026
"Reframing artificial intelligence: critical perspectives from AI social science"
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Hi! I’m chair of the AAUP cmte on AI. We’ve done member research and a report and are engaging locals in organizing and policy pushes, as well as providing resources around the fact that we can organize against this uncritical ai glut.
Dm me for more. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Dm me for more. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Artificial Intelligence and Academic Professions
Educational technology, or ed-tech, including artificial intelligence (AI), continues to become more integrated into teaching and research in higher education, with minimal oversight. The AAUP’s ad ho...
www.aaup.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Hi! I’m chair of the AAUP cmte on AI. We’ve done member research and a report and are engaging locals in organizing and policy pushes, as well as providing resources around the fact that we can organize against this uncritical ai glut.
Dm me for more. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Dm me for more. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Happy to come talk to you and your colleagues, provide resources we’ve developed/gathered, and hear about how we can help you push back on AI :)
November 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Happy to come talk to you and your colleagues, provide resources we’ve developed/gathered, and hear about how we can help you push back on AI :)
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Well done that student. I hope this rebellion spreads. University managements are hell-bent on stripping out experts to save money, and students deserve better. However awful my lectures are, they’re 100% organic. www.theguardian.com/technology/v...
Staffordshire student confronts lecturer for using AI-generated slides – video
Students at the University of Staffordshire have said they feel 'robbed of knowledge and enjoyment' after their turned out to be taught in large part by AI
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Well done that student. I hope this rebellion spreads. University managements are hell-bent on stripping out experts to save money, and students deserve better. However awful my lectures are, they’re 100% organic. www.theguardian.com/technology/v...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Yeah let’s talk feel free to DM. We at AAUP are growing out efforts from trainings, political education, and organizing for various policy pushes. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Artificial Intelligence and Academic Professions
Educational technology, or ed-tech, including artificial intelligence (AI), continues to become more integrated into teaching and research in higher education, with minimal oversight. The AAUP’s ad ho...
www.aaup.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Yeah let’s talk feel free to DM. We at AAUP are growing out efforts from trainings, political education, and organizing for various policy pushes. www.aaup.org/reports-publ...
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Maybe some others I linked to from here know: olivia.science/ai
One thing I did and you're free to take the text is start a letter for your local university to address: openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Consider singing ours it only helps our case. 😊
One thing I did and you're free to take the text is start a letter for your local university to address: openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Consider singing ours it only helps our case. 😊
Critical AI
On this page are some resources for Critical AI Literacy (CAIL) from my perspective.
olivia.science
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Maybe some others I linked to from here know: olivia.science/ai
One thing I did and you're free to take the text is start a letter for your local university to address: openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Consider singing ours it only helps our case. 😊
One thing I did and you're free to take the text is start a letter for your local university to address: openletter.earth/open-letter-...
Consider singing ours it only helps our case. 😊
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
Yes! Link up with @hellobrittparis.bsky.social and the AAUP @aaup.org’s working group on AI. Linda Huber at University of Michigan, and @charleswlogan.bsky.social at Northwestern may be able to help as well
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Yes! Link up with @hellobrittparis.bsky.social and the AAUP @aaup.org’s working group on AI. Linda Huber at University of Michigan, and @charleswlogan.bsky.social at Northwestern may be able to help as well
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
What an ai first administration looks like.
Here’s the Trump executive order that would ban state AI laws
Trump is launching an all-out broadside against states with strict AI regulations.
www.theverge.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:41 AM
What an ai first administration looks like.
Reposted by Jon Shaffer
There's our org, Stop Gen AI. We are literally the only organization that tries to raise survival money for people, too.
stopgenai.com
And @olivia.science and @irisvanrooij.bsky.social are leading the movement to counter Gen AI in academia specifically. They have a petition to sign, next post.
stopgenai.com
And @olivia.science and @irisvanrooij.bsky.social are leading the movement to counter Gen AI in academia specifically. They have a petition to sign, next post.
Stop Gen AI – Mutual Aid and Political Activism
Mutual Aid and Political Activism
stopgenai.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:58 PM
There's our org, Stop Gen AI. We are literally the only organization that tries to raise survival money for people, too.
stopgenai.com
And @olivia.science and @irisvanrooij.bsky.social are leading the movement to counter Gen AI in academia specifically. They have a petition to sign, next post.
stopgenai.com
And @olivia.science and @irisvanrooij.bsky.social are leading the movement to counter Gen AI in academia specifically. They have a petition to sign, next post.