LightNews
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz
@kennethefrantz.bsky.social
200 followers 400 following 180 posts
University of Oklahoma Sociology Doctoral Student Freelance Writer https://kennethefrantz.oucreate.com/blog/
kennethefrantz.oucreate.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · Aug 2
“I think that the Democrats have a real charisma problem right now. They have a reasonable bench of younger leaders who are wonderful orators and very charming, effective communicators, but I’m not sure that they have figured out the grand story that they can offer.“ - Molly Worthen
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · Jul 30
I recently interviewed Molly Worthen over her new book “Spellbound” for @wordandway.bsky.social. wordandway.org/2025/07/30/m...
Molly Worthen Reveals the Hidden Truths Behind American Charismatic Leaders - Word&Way
In her new book, ‘Spellbound,’ the historian of religion traces the mysterious force that is charisma from the Puritans to Donald Trump.
wordandway.org
1
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
carnage4life.bsky.social
Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 1d
The corporate myth is that embracing AI will get you results that are cheap, fast and good with fewer employees.

The reality is a lot of companies will find out they got things done for a lot cheaper and a lot faster but if definitely wasn’t good.
6 21 140
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
warren.senate.gov
Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 1d
We’re in a health care crisis.

Hospitals and clinics will close from Trump’s cuts.

15 million people will lose their health care.

Now Trump’s CDC layoffs are making it even WORSE by gutting our ability to stop emerging health threats.

Democrats are fighting to stop this.
60 280 1.3K
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
profsamperry.bsky.social
Samuel Perry @profsamperry.bsky.social · 4d
Job posting! OU Sociology is looking to hire a TT Assistant Professor or an accelerated TT or tenured Associate Professor, teaching criminology, criminal justice, & race/ethnicity courses. OU is OK's flagship R1, PhD program, 2-2 load with TA help. Please share!

Details: apply.interfolio.com/174925
1 19 21
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 3d
I’m not a fan of Gov. Stitt, but I believe in giving credit where credit is due. So here we go . . .
Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
3
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 3d
Does Harris think that she should have went on Joe Rogan’s podcast while she was campaigning to be president? Why or why not?
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 3d
I thought thirty somethings were grumpy and old when I was in my late teens/early twenties. Now that I’m in my thirties, I want to tell younger me that he was spot on.
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
jimmykimmellive.bsky.social
Jimmy Kimmel Live @jimmykimmellive.bsky.social · 4d
Did Trump write the infamous Epstein birthday letter? You decide.
120 850 2.5K
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
julieroys.bsky.social
Julie Roys @julieroys.bsky.social · 4d
In a recorded call, former CCM superstar Michael Tait apologized to a man who says Tait groomed and sexually assaulted him.
Tait admitted to harming others and cocaine use, saying his sins had “destroyed my world around me." Listen to excerpts in this video:
youtu.be/oYQYet6psZ4
AUDIO: 'I've Destroyed My World Around Me' Says Michael Tait in Apology Phone Call to Victim
YouTube video by Julie Roys
youtu.be
2 2 4
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
pivotpod.bsky.social
Pivot Podcast @pivotpod.bsky.social · 4d
“There is not any advantage to be won from grim lamentation.”

@karaswisher.bsky.social shares some words of wisdom from Homer — and a larger message for the current moment.
2 39 170
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 4d
Growing up Evangelical, I can tell you “private prayer request” often means that I have something to tell you, but I want you to ask what it is.
1 6
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
gtconway.bsky.social
George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 5d
640 8.8K 22K
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 6d
Part of me is wondering what I would have to say to be “cancelled,” because it’s working out well for these people and getting a PhD is hard . . .
audiosand.bsky.social
Sandhya Dirks @audiosand.bsky.social · 6d
can i be (self proclaimed) cancelled?

cause it seems to work out great for these folks.
jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 6d
crazy that one of the most storied institutions in american journalism is going to be run by two people with basically no experience to do it
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 6d
I hope Ezra Klein will restrain himself from saying Bari Weiss is doing journalism the right way
28 67 590
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 6d
I just finished listening to this audiobook. Not my usual reading, but it was philosophically interesting. Great job, @bruceholsinger.bsky.social! www.audible.com/pd/B0F33VXBQ...
Culpability
Check out this great listen on Audible.com. • Oprah’s Book Club Pick • “I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!”—Oprah Winfrey “The most of-the-moment novel I’ve read all year, and it’s t...
www.audible.com
2
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
lutzfernandez.bsky.social
Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 7d
AI 🤝fascism
wolvendamien.bsky.social
Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 7d
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolat...
arxiv.org
16 55
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 7d
Holt seems to be a man of integrity. Next governor maybe . . .
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
profsamperry.bsky.social
Samuel Perry @profsamperry.bsky.social · 7d
Excited to see the new paperback edition of Addicted to Lust *with a new preface*! I’m proud of the way the arguments in here about “moral incongruence” and pornography use have only received more empirical support in the past 6 years. Great deal on Amazon!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0197...
1 7 37
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 7d
I remember reading that book and every chapter had a finding that made me go “Damn! Really?” Great book.
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
katmabu.bsky.social
Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 7d
I said what I said: Kristi Noem should be tried at The Hague for crimes against humanity.
680 4.3K 18K
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
profsamperry.bsky.social
Samuel Perry @profsamperry.bsky.social · 9d
Important new FREE study by Amy Brooke Grauley. Experiments show when Christian leaders warn Christians against Christian nationalism, they're less likely to identify with it, especially if they don't have strong views on it yet. Effects are weaker in the opposite direction.
doi.org/10.1007/s111...
14 48
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 10d
Finally got around to listening to this interview, and Coates killed it.

Coates came across as a concerned friend telling Klien, “Dude, no . . .”
Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps vs. Drawing Lines
Podcast Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 09/28/2025 · 1h 9m
podcasts.apple.com
2
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
cwarzel.bsky.social
Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 11d
wrote a quick one about the tech companies settling lawsuits with Trump. Yes, it’s cowardice. But it’s also an excuse to behave the way they’ve always wanted to (irresponsibly, with no regard for the consequences of their actions). Which, actually makes them a perfect part of the MAGA coalition
YouTube Bends the Knee
Welcome to the era of Big-Tech capitulation.
www.theatlantic.com
16 150 590
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
thetnholler.bsky.social
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 12d
WATCH — @aoc.bsky.social : “At some point we’ve gotta call these people’s B.S. for what it is. You can’t believe everything a con man is gonna tell you. We cannot live in perpetual fear of these clowns.” #TrumpShutdown
500 6.3K 24K
Reposted by Kenneth Ethan Frantz
aoc.bsky.social
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 12d
Most of the power authoritarians have is freely given. We should not comply with them in advance.

Trump is far weaker than he looks. So is the GOP. We should draw them out, drain them at every opportunity, and fight for people’s wellbeing at every turn.

We have been sent here to fight for people.
acyn.bsky.social
Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 12d
AOC: I think there's two things that are happening at once: One, there absolutely is an unprecedented abuse of power, destruction of norms, erosion of our government and our democracy in order to prop up an authoritarian style of governance

However, they are weaker than they look…
330 4.3K 19K
kennethefrantz.bsky.social
Kenneth Ethan Frantz @kennethefrantz.bsky.social · 12d
Would seem like a good time to interview an expert on Christian nationalism and masculinity. Might I suggest @profsamperry.bsky.social?