Lida Maxwell
@lidamaxwell.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science at BU, author of _Rachel Carson and the Power of Queer Love_ (Stanford UP, January 2025)
Pinned
Lida Maxwell
@lidamaxwell.bsky.social
· Apr 28
If you live in western Mass, the Hudson Valley, or Chicago, please consider coming out to hear me talk about Rachel Carson and the Power of Queer Love in May and June. I'm going to be at some cool bookstores, and would love to see some of you!
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Another way to look at this is when ICE, CBP, et al lie on reports, now they can blame AI. “U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote… that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines the agents’ credibility and ‘may explain the inaccuracy of these reports.’”
Judge's footnote on immigration agents using AI raises accuracy and privacy concerns
A federal judge called out an immigration enforcement agent for using artificial intelligence to write the narrative of a use-of-force report as just a small part of a scathing opinion that rebutted f...
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Another way to look at this is when ICE, CBP, et al lie on reports, now they can blame AI. “U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote… that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines the agents’ credibility and ‘may explain the inaccuracy of these reports.’”
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Has any one written anything about why so many people seem to use AI so much? Asking bc I truly don't get it - even aside from the terrible environmental implications, and so many other terrible things it does economically. But why do people like not doing their own thinking/seeking/making?
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Has any one written anything about why so many people seem to use AI so much? Asking bc I truly don't get it - even aside from the terrible environmental implications, and so many other terrible things it does economically. But why do people like not doing their own thinking/seeking/making?
Has any one written anything about why so many people seem to use AI so much? Asking bc I truly don't get it - even aside from the terrible environmental implications, and so many other terrible things it does economically. But why do people like not doing their own thinking/seeking/making?
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Has any one written anything about why so many people seem to use AI so much? Asking bc I truly don't get it - even aside from the terrible environmental implications, and so many other terrible things it does economically. But why do people like not doing their own thinking/seeking/making?
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
I have been feeling depressed and discouraged that this man has the power and influence he does at my school and in my profession
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
November 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I have been feeling depressed and discouraged that this man has the power and influence he does at my school and in my profession
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
And I am a tenured professor at Harvard! How much more protected can I be?
Imagine how STUDENTS feel. Junior faculty. This quote nails it
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
this
I think everyone should point at him and say "quiet, quiet piggy". Not shouting; just a repetitive statement, like "shame, shame". Over and over. "Quiet, quiet piggy."
November 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
this
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
we are going to win
Today there was an attempted ICE raid in Bensonhurst & community members showed up. Even though NYPD collaborated with ICE by trying to disburse the crowd; community members stood their ground & ICE left without kidnapping a single person per the rapid response groups I'm on. We protect us!
November 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
we are going to win
this is a great piece - and maybe explains to me why i haven't really watched tv and movies for like a decade...
TV and film of the moment aren't going to galvanize anyone. But stories closer to home just might
This week’s newsletter. Read! Subscribe! It’s free!
This week’s newsletter. Read! Subscribe! It’s free!
The hollowness of Hollywood’s rich people stories
TV and film of the moment aren't going to galvanize anyone. But stories closer to home just might.
buttondown.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
this is a great piece - and maybe explains to me why i haven't really watched tv and movies for like a decade...
Three of my books were here; you should all file a claim…
We're at the next stag of the authors' lawsuit against Anthropic.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
Check the link below to see which of your books they raided and then click through to file a claim.
Four of mine were in there.
November 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Three of my books were here; you should all file a claim…
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Summers must be removed from his post at Harvard.
"Summers declined to comment on Wednesday beyond referring to previous remarks in which he acknowledged 'regretting my past associations with Mr. Epstein.' (...Summers is a contributing writer for The New York Times Opinion section.)"
They don't mention the IQ email
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
They don't mention the IQ email
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Epstein Bantered Regularly With Larry Summers
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Summers must be removed from his post at Harvard.
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Something absolutely perfect about Larry Summers riffing about the scourge of woke cancel culture being unfair to predatory men in a friendly email to his pal JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
November 13, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Something absolutely perfect about Larry Summers riffing about the scourge of woke cancel culture being unfair to predatory men in a friendly email to his pal JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Tonight was a very bad night.
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Tonight was a very bad night.
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Dem gains in this week's elections erased the inroads Trump made with non-white, young, and low-income voters in 2024. In fact, the R-to-D shift from 24 to 25 is double Trump's gains from 20-24. Claims of a GOP political realignment have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
Trump's winning 2024 coalition has evaporated
Claims of a conservative realignment of non-whites, the working class, and young voters have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Dem gains in this week's elections erased the inroads Trump made with non-white, young, and low-income voters in 2024. In fact, the R-to-D shift from 24 to 25 is double Trump's gains from 20-24. Claims of a GOP political realignment have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Did you know a former White House climate advisor flipped a GOP stronghold in Virginia by running entirely on putting a stop to more AI data centers?
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
This Virginia Election Was a Warning for Data Centers
John McAuliff ran his campaign almost entirely on data centers — and won.
heatmap.news
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Did you know a former White House climate advisor flipped a GOP stronghold in Virginia by running entirely on putting a stop to more AI data centers?
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
Infuriating. MA voters said we don’t want a standardized test to determine whether students graduate, and now they want more standardized tests? Do we need some kind of constitutional amendment banning high stakes standardized testing, to prevent this chicanery? www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/16/m...
State mulls end-of-course tests, but officials insist they won’t be another high-stakes graduation exam - The Boston Globe
State officials said the recommendations are not final and the tests would not necessarily be high stakes.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Infuriating. MA voters said we don’t want a standardized test to determine whether students graduate, and now they want more standardized tests? Do we need some kind of constitutional amendment banning high stakes standardized testing, to prevent this chicanery? www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/16/m...
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
"Lia Smith was a student-athlete, but she wasn’t allowed to participate this year because of a hostile government and the cowardice of the NCAA. Two years ago, Lia was a talented young swimmer at Middlebury; now, her name is almost entirely absent from the college’s athletics website..."
Lia Smith, transgender student athlete at Middlebury College, died to suicide last week after being banned from participating in competition.
A somber piece by @alyssaur.bsky.social describes how she's being remembered by her friends and family.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
A somber piece by @alyssaur.bsky.social describes how she's being remembered by her friends and family.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Transgender Student-Athlete Lia Smith Remembered as a Friend and Fierce Advocate — Assigned
Lia Smith, a 21-year-old trans student-athlete in Vermont, took her own life last week. Her friends, family and community mourn, and remember her as a bright young woman who spoke on behalf of her com...
www.assignedmedia.org
October 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"Lia Smith was a student-athlete, but she wasn’t allowed to participate this year because of a hostile government and the cowardice of the NCAA. Two years ago, Lia was a talented young swimmer at Middlebury; now, her name is almost entirely absent from the college’s athletics website..."
Political theorists have lots of explanations for this
A fun fact is that contemporary political philosophy has something like ~no explanation for why democracy is something ordinary people would or should care about this much
ordinary americans are filming ice agents and trying to save their neighbors. for all the hemming and hawing during 2024 about how democracy was an elite concern, the elites gave up far more quickly than average people.
October 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Political theorists have lots of explanations for this
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Zhao, White House says reut.rs/49eixmn
Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Zhao, White House says
U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned convicted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, a White House official said on Thursday.
reut.rs
October 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Zhao, White House says reut.rs/49eixmn
I got completely off Blackboard this year for my big intro class. The students seem to be okay.
Our faculty senate unbelievably voted last week to require all assignments to be posted in Canvas (currently utterly unavailable). I am NOT on faculty senate this year to be clear….
One of the problems is that every part of the university, from administration to the students, now expects you to use this stuff. I'd love to go back to pure analogue, but the pushback I'd face feels insurmountable. Has anyone else successfully done this?
October 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I got completely off Blackboard this year for my big intro class. The students seem to be okay.
Reposted by Lida Maxwell
here is my favorite sign from today
October 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
here is my favorite sign from today
Fenway Health, founded to give queer people the health care they were denied elsewhere, ceases offering gender affirming care for minors.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
Facing federal pressure, Fenway Health halts gender-affirming care for patients under 19
Facing federal pressure, the Boston clinic's decision has prompted backlash from LGBTQ+ community members.
www.boston.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Fenway Health, founded to give queer people the health care they were denied elsewhere, ceases offering gender affirming care for minors.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
www.boston.com/news/local-n...