Madhusudan 🦉 Katti
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leafwarbler.bsky.social
Madhusudan 🦉 Katti
@leafwarbler.bsky.social
Reconciliation ecologist working towards decoloniality at a Land Grab University on Saponi lands • Writer • Alien of extraordinary ability • 🏳️‍⚧️ parent • 🐦‍⬛ 🦚 🪶 📽️ 🏏

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A Reconciliation Ecologist's Testimony at a People's Hearing

Something I had the honor to speak last week, to an auditorium full of Indigenous, Black and Brown, really a rainbow of environmental justice activists in Greensboro, NC.

(and yes, this also launches my newsletter, so please subscribe!)
A Reconciliation Ecologist's Testimony at a People's Hearing
Spoken in Greensboro, NC in June 2025
reconciliationecology.beehiiv.com
If you're in the vicinity of Raleigh and able to drive downtown this evening, consider dropping by NC Museum of Natural Sciences around 7PM for Science Café. There you'll find @hillaryrosner.bsky.social in conversation with @rolandkays.com and me about her new book ROAM!
Or see us on the livestream.
January 15, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Madhusudan 🦉 Katti
Folks in the Research Triangle area: my dear friend @hillaryrosner.bsky.social will be at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences this Thursday evening on a stellar panel, discussing her new book, 'Roam,' with a bit of hope in these dark times. naturalsciences.org/calendar/eve... #wildlife #science
Science Café: Connectivity, Corridors, and Coexistence Programs and Events Calendar
naturalsciences.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:34 AM
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The Trump admin, which says it was investigating fraud in Democratic-led states, quietly shelved a massive welfare fraud investigation in Mississippi involving public funds funneled to Brett Favre and others
Trump Admin Went Easy On A Red State After Punishing Blue States For The Same Exact Thing
Mississippi caught a break on an embezzlement scandal that funneled money to Brett Favre and others.
www.huffpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:10 PM
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John Thelin: "...so many values and principles and policies that were hard-fought to gain are being eroded before our eyes, and if there isn’t some vigilance from our presidents, they’re going to just evaporate before us over the next couple of years.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
‘An Existential Threat to American Higher Education’
Conservative state legislatures and ideologically-driven boards want to dramatically change America’s colleges.
www.theatlantic.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:14 PM
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Traditions gain salience through time and consistency. They are what we choose to do across the years. When they are interrupted, when we stop choosing them consistently, they lose that.

The chancellor said it’s not going away entirely—that remains to be seen—but it’s already lost some of its heft.
January 15, 2026 at 1:46 PM
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America has tried to be a real multiracial democracy for just over 60 years and that attempt has been contested at every step along the way.

The dinner has been held every year, without fail, since 1969.

www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Indiana University Cancels MLK Celebration Dinner
Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled a dinner in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. hosted annually in January by the Black Student Union, Mirror Indy reported.
www.insidehighered.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 PM
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Revisiting this piece I wrote in 2023:

"This year is defining moment for American higher education, one that will decide whom institutions admit, who will teach those students, and what those professors can teach." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
January 15, 2026 at 2:11 PM
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January 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM
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Aware that he only had a few months left to live the great Mike Davis gave one of his final interviews to the Guardian in 202.

"You’ve been organizing for social change your whole life. How do you deal with a future that feels so bleak?" Lois Beckett asked.
January 15, 2026 at 6:15 PM
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Thinking of Kalief's mother: the prison industrial complex is so mūrderous it even kïlls the loved ones of its victims via grief. She literally dïed of a broken heart.
I always return to the fact that these are the conditions in the more prominent city in the country and ignorance is no excuse *particularly* with the way Kalief Browder’s loved ones and advocates made sure to share his story when he passed.

hellgatenyc.com/rikers-islan...
Rikers Island Is Still Hell On Earth
Mayor Mamdani must do something about it—plus more stories for your Thursday.
hellgatenyc.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
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in general, a lot of doomerism on this website boils down to, "they are going to start treating us like black people, and i believe the marginalization of black people is immutable destiny"
January 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM
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In addition to all the stuff that's not legal here, recall that law enforcement is not allowed to kneel on necks in Minneapolis anymore post-George Floyd. Meanwhile: someone should probably figure out who's getting checks from private prisons housing these hostages. (hint: everybody)
New video shows ICE agents detaining a US citizen legal observer in Minneapolis.

The agents smashed his car window, dragged him out, and placed a knee on his neck.
January 13, 2026 at 6:33 PM
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They're coming for us again.
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
ICE in St. Paul: Man roughly detained at gas station, Border Patrol chief jeered in Midway Target
Videos and photos show a prevalence of federal agents in St. Paul recently.
trib.al
January 13, 2026 at 11:00 PM
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IT. IS. NOT. HARD.

But these chucklefucks think the idea is hard, and that the other *handwavy* shit just takes the luck of the roll of talent. I mean

And they think because they're not IMMEDIATELY GOOD at the thing they suck at the thing

when sucking at the thing
January 5, 2026 at 3:45 PM
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thinking that

THE IDEA

is the work.

The fuck it is. It is not. Ideas are falling off the turnip truck. IDEAS ARE EASY.

I could give you 100 writing prompts, good ones, off the top of my head. Right now.
January 5, 2026 at 3:44 PM
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The Williams sisters are insanely talented at tennis. They have natural gifts.

And both worked their fucking ASSES off.

It is not

it is never

falling off the turnip truck.

IT IS WORK.

So these people who are like 'oh I have a GREAT idea...' are the assholes pestering creators...
January 5, 2026 at 3:43 PM
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have all those ideas in their heads too.

And they did a lot

A LOT

of work to learn how to do their thing.

Me? I haven't done the work. So my 'talent' only takes me so far.

In the things I DO do the work on? There's a huge difference.

That's how it works.
January 5, 2026 at 3:42 PM
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One artist who's work literally all of you have seen, ALL OF YOU, was blown away when we played a sketch game online because I could quickly draw images...easily.

Another friend who makes his living entirely through art told me he had ZERO natural talent which blew me away.

How. HOW!

They ...
January 5, 2026 at 3:41 PM
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That's not being a professional artist, I never depended on that money. IMO I don't want to word quibble.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING DOING THAT ART.

And they don't have natural talent.

Read that again.
January 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
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Natural talent is nothing compared to the ability to keep making shit long after everyone else has given up
January 5, 2026 at 3:43 PM
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Some of them will say that they can't do it. They can't draw.

I have natural art talent for drawing, sketching, painting, and sculpture. Not everyone does.

I have done some of that professionally meaning I have sold my art which feels super neat. (Unlike what I do for a job which is also art)
January 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
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If a machine can fart out a 400-page novel based on any stray shower thought, why would even the “author” want to read it?

But they don’t get it. Or maybe they do but are in deep denial
January 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
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So as someone who's a professional creator, and has always been a creator of art in many mediums ...

I've encountered a lot of people in life

A LOT OF PEOPLE

who want to do art, who think they have good ideas for art, but don't want to do the work

Now...
If a machine can fart out a 400-page novel based on any stray shower thought, why would even the “author” want to read it?

But they don’t get it. Or maybe they do but are in deep denial
January 5, 2026 at 3:38 PM
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Again, I am baffled by what they’re getting out of this. Yes, they can cosplay being an author like a tourist in a souvenir cowboy hat is a cowpuncher, but they clearly aren’t satisfied and fulfilled because they keep tearing around demanding praise. “Tell me I’m a writer!”
January 5, 2026 at 3:28 PM
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Someone made a good point about finding prompts left in AI books: they expect you to read what they didn’t read themselves.

Their argument is that they have the vision but lack the skills. Wouldn’t you want to read your vision?

Just ridiculous.
January 5, 2026 at 3:22 PM