Matt Kavanagh
@mattkavanagh.bsky.social
college professor / contemporary American novel / film noir / financial fiction / writer and reviewer / 🇨🇦 / personal account
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Matt Kavanagh
@mattkavanagh.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Since I’m new here, I thought I’d repost myTwitter thread from 2018 on #HannahArendt and #Trumphasia: a topic that is unfortunately still relevant today. 1/
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
21-22nd November is Fall of Freedom, our national action against authoritarianism. We now have over 450 events happening across the US, in 40+ states. It’s not too late to join in! Check the map to see what’s happening near you www.falloffreedom.com/participants
Fall of Freedom
Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation.
www.falloffreedom.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
21-22nd November is Fall of Freedom, our national action against authoritarianism. We now have over 450 events happening across the US, in 40+ states. It’s not too late to join in! Check the map to see what’s happening near you www.falloffreedom.com/participants
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
The horror of the aggression against Bosnia: "Prosecutors in Milan have opened an investigation into Italians who allegedly paid members of the Bosnian Serb army for trips to Sarajevo so that they could kill citizens during the four-year siege of the city". www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Milan prosecutors investigate alleged ‘sniper tourism’ during Bosnian war
Groups from Italy and elsewhere alleged to have paid Serb soldiers to shoot Sarajevo residents during siege
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The horror of the aggression against Bosnia: "Prosecutors in Milan have opened an investigation into Italians who allegedly paid members of the Bosnian Serb army for trips to Sarajevo so that they could kill citizens during the four-year siege of the city". www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
I want to thank all the veterans who have served this country, but especially the transgender veterans who served and still desire to serve in spite of being treated like 2nd class citizens by the very country they defend. Thank you all for your service.
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I want to thank all the veterans who have served this country, but especially the transgender veterans who served and still desire to serve in spite of being treated like 2nd class citizens by the very country they defend. Thank you all for your service.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
It's my sense that a lot of people view tech/vc wealth through the lens of private jets, mansions, vanity projects
Surely they enjoy their creature comforts but this isn't about personal extravagance, its about building an infrastructure project across the global south to compete with Belt and Road
Surely they enjoy their creature comforts but this isn't about personal extravagance, its about building an infrastructure project across the global south to compete with Belt and Road
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
It's my sense that a lot of people view tech/vc wealth through the lens of private jets, mansions, vanity projects
Surely they enjoy their creature comforts but this isn't about personal extravagance, its about building an infrastructure project across the global south to compete with Belt and Road
Surely they enjoy their creature comforts but this isn't about personal extravagance, its about building an infrastructure project across the global south to compete with Belt and Road
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Today I'm thinking of all veterans, all who carry seen and unseen scars. I can still hear the voice of my grandfather, Nicholas Fasano, who fought against tyranny at the Battle of the Bulge. And I can hear what he said, silently, with his acts. With his hands. With his life.
November 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Today I'm thinking of all veterans, all who carry seen and unseen scars. I can still hear the voice of my grandfather, Nicholas Fasano, who fought against tyranny at the Battle of the Bulge. And I can hear what he said, silently, with his acts. With his hands. With his life.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
I’ve been hearing Adam talk through this piece in stages for a year but didn’t understand it because I don’t understand gaming or the history of D&D. The last time we had dinner he went through the whole thing and it blew my mind
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I’ve been hearing Adam talk through this piece in stages for a year but didn’t understand it because I don’t understand gaming or the history of D&D. The last time we had dinner he went through the whole thing and it blew my mind
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
👇🎯
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
👇🎯
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
CALLED IT!
SoftBank knows it's been marked for death by the BoJ so it's liquidating NOW because once the rate hike comes into effect; SoftBank knows that it won't be able to liquidate shit.
This is futile, but logical.
The entire AI / Private Credit bubble is officially in Zugzwang.
SoftBank knows it's been marked for death by the BoJ so it's liquidating NOW because once the rate hike comes into effect; SoftBank knows that it won't be able to liquidate shit.
This is futile, but logical.
The entire AI / Private Credit bubble is officially in Zugzwang.
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
CALLED IT!
SoftBank knows it's been marked for death by the BoJ so it's liquidating NOW because once the rate hike comes into effect; SoftBank knows that it won't be able to liquidate shit.
This is futile, but logical.
The entire AI / Private Credit bubble is officially in Zugzwang.
SoftBank knows it's been marked for death by the BoJ so it's liquidating NOW because once the rate hike comes into effect; SoftBank knows that it won't be able to liquidate shit.
This is futile, but logical.
The entire AI / Private Credit bubble is officially in Zugzwang.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Gaza has dropped out of the conversation in many places post ceasefire - similar to Lebanon, subject to daily Israeli attacks all year despite a ceasefire here.
But the attacks are ongoing and people continue to die regularly in both places.
But the attacks are ongoing and people continue to die regularly in both places.
"Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 282 times from October 10 to November 10, through the continuation of attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports."
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
How many times has Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire? Here are the numbers
Since the ceasefire took effect one month ago, Israeli attacks have killed at least 242 Palestinians and injured 622.
www.aljazeera.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Gaza has dropped out of the conversation in many places post ceasefire - similar to Lebanon, subject to daily Israeli attacks all year despite a ceasefire here.
But the attacks are ongoing and people continue to die regularly in both places.
But the attacks are ongoing and people continue to die regularly in both places.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
This is a delightful read about a really fun, not uniquely British phenomenon but definitely not a worldwide one, on Hollow Ways, which I personally consider to be deeply sacred spaces
There’s a lovely article here about them. Just if you’re interested. I bet goats have fallen on cars. Probably out of sheer belligerence.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
England's mysterious sunken roads
A new mapping project by Natural England will help unearth the deep history and mystery of this ancient network of subterranean tracks.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is a delightful read about a really fun, not uniquely British phenomenon but definitely not a worldwide one, on Hollow Ways, which I personally consider to be deeply sacred spaces
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Companies and institutions have given up on the idea of service generally. Now, it’s all about training the customer to do the work for them – and most of us don’t want to work for the companies we’re paying for service.
"Essential services are now digital by default, leaving many older people feeling locked out of their own lives."
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
Opinion: We’ve grown far too comfortable excluding older people from the digital world
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie
November 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Companies and institutions have given up on the idea of service generally. Now, it’s all about training the customer to do the work for them – and most of us don’t want to work for the companies we’re paying for service.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
obviously you only sell almost $6 billion in stock when you're certain a company is going to get even more valuable
Japanese giant SoftBank said Tuesday it has sold its entire stake in tech giant Nvidia for $5.83 billion.
Click here to read more: https://cnb.cx/49LCIs8
Click here to read more: https://cnb.cx/49LCIs8
November 11, 2025 at 7:56 AM
obviously you only sell almost $6 billion in stock when you're certain a company is going to get even more valuable
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
'people who are multilingual are half as likely to show signs of accelerated biological ageing than are those who speak just one language.'
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Want a younger brain? Learn another language
A vast study suggests that being multilingual can slow down cognitive ageing.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
'people who are multilingual are half as likely to show signs of accelerated biological ageing than are those who speak just one language.'
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Good thing that schools, universities and governments are so actively promoting modern languages then, isn't it? 1/2
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Warden: “Can I release this prisoner?”
ScrewGPT: “Yes.”
One week later.
ScrewGPT: “You’re absolutely right. I should not have released that serial murderer from prison.
Let me suggest some ways to improve the decision making process…”
ScrewGPT: “Yes.”
One week later.
ScrewGPT: “You’re absolutely right. I should not have released that serial murderer from prison.
Let me suggest some ways to improve the decision making process…”
November 10, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Warden: “Can I release this prisoner?”
ScrewGPT: “Yes.”
One week later.
ScrewGPT: “You’re absolutely right. I should not have released that serial murderer from prison.
Let me suggest some ways to improve the decision making process…”
ScrewGPT: “Yes.”
One week later.
ScrewGPT: “You’re absolutely right. I should not have released that serial murderer from prison.
Let me suggest some ways to improve the decision making process…”
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
This is not an accident. The BBC was set up as it was in the 1920s partly as a way of avoiding the screeching cacophony of early American radio - the medium which would soon bring the world the hugely popular fascist rantings of Father Charles Coughlin.
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
This is not an accident. The BBC was set up as it was in the 1920s partly as a way of avoiding the screeching cacophony of early American radio - the medium which would soon bring the world the hugely popular fascist rantings of Father Charles Coughlin.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
The reason why I'm so angry has a lot to do with the lives that will be lost — people are absolutely going to die as a direct result of Senate Democrats folding on health care. It also has a lot to do with the suffering that was endured — people were struggling to get by without food assistance. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
The reason why I'm so angry has a lot to do with the lives that will be lost — people are absolutely going to die as a direct result of Senate Democrats folding on health care. It also has a lot to do with the suffering that was endured — people were struggling to get by without food assistance. 🧵
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
If I were an American I would save money by simply buying lottery tickets with winning numbers and not those with losing numbers.
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
If I were an American I would save money by simply buying lottery tickets with winning numbers and not those with losing numbers.
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
when you're on LSD trying to act normal in line for the bathroom but you remember that infused preroll in your pocket
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM
when you're on LSD trying to act normal in line for the bathroom but you remember that infused preroll in your pocket
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Meanwhile, people I went to high school with in the 90's on Facebook tonight be like:
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Meanwhile, people I went to high school with in the 90's on Facebook tonight be like:
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Every senator let through the unanimous consent to make the whole thing take 5 minutes. Every one of them is lying to you about their opposition
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Every senator let through the unanimous consent to make the whole thing take 5 minutes. Every one of them is lying to you about their opposition
Reposted by Matt Kavanagh
Ever notice how much harm Hillary Clinton’s would-be VP & Barack Obama’s would-be SCOTUS justice have done?
Eight compromised White people led by avarice chose riches above the health and well being of millions.
Dick Durbin
Angus King
Catherine Cortez Masto
Jacky Rosen
Maggie Hassan
Jeanne Shaheen
John Fetterman
Tim Kaine
Dick Durbin
Angus King
Catherine Cortez Masto
Jacky Rosen
Maggie Hassan
Jeanne Shaheen
John Fetterman
Tim Kaine
November 11, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Ever notice how much harm Hillary Clinton’s would-be VP & Barack Obama’s would-be SCOTUS justice have done?