Michelle Appel
@msappel.bsky.social
Data geek, higher ed policy wonk, institutional researcher, disability activist, swimmer, hoarder of yarn, and spouse of John Appel the SFF author.
All views are mine.
All views are mine.
My fellow data lovers, check out the free and open to all events the @bigtenacademic.bsky.social has planned for Love Data Week! And while you are there, visit the campus LDW sites as well. Such good stuff.
btaa.org/technology/l...
btaa.org/technology/l...
Virtual Love Data Week Events
btaa.org
January 22, 2026 at 2:26 AM
My fellow data lovers, check out the free and open to all events the @bigtenacademic.bsky.social has planned for Love Data Week! And while you are there, visit the campus LDW sites as well. Such good stuff.
btaa.org/technology/l...
btaa.org/technology/l...
Reposted by Michelle Appel
He was already on the ground. This is government-sponsored sadism. That is, Trump-sponsored sadism.
This video filmed by Ben Luhmann shows the moment a federal agent sprayed chemical irritants directly into a man's face in south Minneapolis.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
January 22, 2026 at 2:00 AM
He was already on the ground. This is government-sponsored sadism. That is, Trump-sponsored sadism.
I woke up for my nightly battle with insomnia only to encounter this massive moment of specilation.
January 21, 2026 at 7:59 AM
I woke up for my nightly battle with insomnia only to encounter this massive moment of specilation.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Schrödinger’s Air Force One
January 21, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Schrödinger’s Air Force One
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Unclench your jaw.
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
January 21, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Unclench your jaw.
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Relax your brow.
Go get a drink of water.
See if you've taken your meds
Eat something.
Doesn't matter what you look like right now, i think you look amazing.
Because you do.
You're a wonderful person.
And have this. 🫂🖤 you did great today. You made it through
Reposted by Michelle Appel
No surprise to librarians, but perhaps surprising to users, demands/prices for ebooks /audiobooks are killing public library budgets. David Szalay's book, Flesh,” costs DCPL:
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
Libraries can't afford e-books. D.C. lawmakers have a plan.
The demand and price for e-books is up — and it’s busting the D.C. Public Library budget.
51st.news
January 17, 2026 at 4:44 AM
No surprise to librarians, but perhaps surprising to users, demands/prices for ebooks /audiobooks are killing public library budgets. David Szalay's book, Flesh,” costs DCPL:
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
It took Trump one year to destroy 75 years of American science excellence.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 AM
It took Trump one year to destroy 75 years of American science excellence.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Michelle Appel
WE SHOULDN'T USE POLLING TO TELL US WHAT OUR VALUES ARE, WE SHOULD USE POLLING TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE CAUSES WE VALUE.
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 AM
WE SHOULDN'T USE POLLING TO TELL US WHAT OUR VALUES ARE, WE SHOULD USE POLLING TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE CAUSES WE VALUE.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
The Bulletin is honored to welcome Mari Faines, a policy expert who has worked at the intersection of nuclear nonproliferation policy and social justice issues, and Suzi Ragheb, an independent researcher specializing in digital governance and cross-cultural tech policy, as 2026 board fellows.
The Bulletin welcomes 2026 board fellows
The Bulletin is honored to welcome Mari Faines and Suzi Ragheb as 2026 board fellows. Faines is a policy expert who has worked at the intersection of nuclear nonproliferation policy and social…
thebulletin.org
January 18, 2026 at 10:18 PM
The Bulletin is honored to welcome Mari Faines, a policy expert who has worked at the intersection of nuclear nonproliferation policy and social justice issues, and Suzi Ragheb, an independent researcher specializing in digital governance and cross-cultural tech policy, as 2026 board fellows.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Missed this a few days ago:
Two U.S. citizens grabbed by ICE say there were cells reserved for Americans.
Also, they weren’t given medical attention or allowed to go to the bathroom.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Two U.S. citizens grabbed by ICE say there were cells reserved for Americans.
Also, they weren’t given medical attention or allowed to go to the bathroom.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
January 18, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Missed this a few days ago:
Two U.S. citizens grabbed by ICE say there were cells reserved for Americans.
Also, they weren’t given medical attention or allowed to go to the bathroom.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Two U.S. citizens grabbed by ICE say there were cells reserved for Americans.
Also, they weren’t given medical attention or allowed to go to the bathroom.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Tldr:
Your body
🤝
Your clothes
Wash in COLD water after being chemical weaponed by agents of your own government or you're gonna have a second real bad time
Your body
🤝
Your clothes
Wash in COLD water after being chemical weaponed by agents of your own government or you're gonna have a second real bad time
If u get tear gassed by the police, don't take a hot shower afterward I promise you do not want to do this
January 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Tldr:
Your body
🤝
Your clothes
Wash in COLD water after being chemical weaponed by agents of your own government or you're gonna have a second real bad time
Your body
🤝
Your clothes
Wash in COLD water after being chemical weaponed by agents of your own government or you're gonna have a second real bad time
Diggy Coit having a phenomenal game.
January 18, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Diggy Coit having a phenomenal game.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
This is only scratching the service of survivor-centered pedagogy. If you’re interested in learning more, I wrote an article about trauma-informed course design. Here’s a link to a free PDF:
www.nicolebedera.com/_files/ugd/c...
www.nicolebedera.com/_files/ugd/c...
www.nicolebedera.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is only scratching the service of survivor-centered pedagogy. If you’re interested in learning more, I wrote an article about trauma-informed course design. Here’s a link to a free PDF:
www.nicolebedera.com/_files/ugd/c...
www.nicolebedera.com/_files/ugd/c...
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Someone resurrected this thread as potentially helpful for instructors trying to figure out how to manage disruptions to schoolwork due to ICE occupation.
If it’s helping, I’m happy to repost it too:
If it’s helping, I’m happy to repost it too:
In light of today’s conversation on academic accommodations, I’m going to revive a thread lost to time when I deleted my Twitter profile.
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
January 16, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Someone resurrected this thread as potentially helpful for instructors trying to figure out how to manage disruptions to schoolwork due to ICE occupation.
If it’s helping, I’m happy to repost it too:
If it’s helping, I’m happy to repost it too:
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
Breaking news: The Justice Department has issued subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation alleging that they are impeding federal law enforcement officers’ abilities to do their jobs in the state.
Justice Dept. launches criminal investigation of Minnesota governor
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation into impeding law enforcement.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
36 people have died at ICE's hands in the past year
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
January 8, 2026 at 7:53 PM
36 people have died at ICE's hands in the past year
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Linda Tirado got shot in the head in Minneapolis in 2020. She lived to tell the tale and is permanently disabled as a result. No one should be talking about the murder of Renee Good as if it's anomalous. No one.
January 16, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Linda Tirado got shot in the head in Minneapolis in 2020. She lived to tell the tale and is permanently disabled as a result. No one should be talking about the murder of Renee Good as if it's anomalous. No one.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
If you ever somehow find yourself in charge of literally billions of dollars you don't know what you do with, you could do far worse than modeling off of MacKenzie Scott.
BREAKING: Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife has made a “transformational” donation to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group. This large gift comes just months after the Trump administration shut down counseling services for queer youth.
My latest for @wired.com:
My latest for @wired.com:
MacKenzie Scott Donates $45 Million to the Trevor Project
Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife has made a donation to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group that the organization calls “transformational.”
www.wired.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:55 AM
If you ever somehow find yourself in charge of literally billions of dollars you don't know what you do with, you could do far worse than modeling off of MacKenzie Scott.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
I think it’s important to point out: ICE does NOT have the same authority as a police officer. They do NOT have the power to enforce laws, only to engage in their specific tasks.
IE: they don’t do traffic, etc. impeding traffic is not a penalty ICE can enforce against
IE: they don’t do traffic, etc. impeding traffic is not a penalty ICE can enforce against
January 11, 2026 at 8:08 PM
I think it’s important to point out: ICE does NOT have the same authority as a police officer. They do NOT have the power to enforce laws, only to engage in their specific tasks.
IE: they don’t do traffic, etc. impeding traffic is not a penalty ICE can enforce against
IE: they don’t do traffic, etc. impeding traffic is not a penalty ICE can enforce against
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Next week, SCOTUS hears oral argument in Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s challenge to Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her.
Trump claimed he had “cause” to do so based on allegations of mortgage fraud. Will be interesting to see if Trump’s latest effort to manufacture cause colors Cook’s case.
Trump claimed he had “cause” to do so based on allegations of mortgage fraud. Will be interesting to see if Trump’s latest effort to manufacture cause colors Cook’s case.
The U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Columbia has opened a criminal investigation into Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, over the central bank’s renovation of its Washington headquarters and whether Mr. Powell lied to Congress. (GIFT LINK) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
Federal Prosecutors Are Said to Have Opened Inquiry Into Fed Chair Powell
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Next week, SCOTUS hears oral argument in Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s challenge to Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her.
Trump claimed he had “cause” to do so based on allegations of mortgage fraud. Will be interesting to see if Trump’s latest effort to manufacture cause colors Cook’s case.
Trump claimed he had “cause” to do so based on allegations of mortgage fraud. Will be interesting to see if Trump’s latest effort to manufacture cause colors Cook’s case.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Books don't turn kids into someone else. Books show them they don't have to deny who they really are.
No book is going to turn kids into someone else. But books will regularly show kids other people like them and show those kids they're not alone. And they'll show kids other types of people who also exist. There is a large proportion of the population who are terrified of this.
January 12, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Books don't turn kids into someone else. Books show them they don't have to deny who they really are.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
Minute by minute, the days get longer.
January 12, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Minute by minute, the days get longer.
Reposted by Michelle Appel
That rain outside the hotel means the sky was just as moved by @tomatoanus.bsky.social as we were. Massive thanks to Tommy for joining us for that prize segment.
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
January 10, 2026 at 8:04 PM
That rain outside the hotel means the sky was just as moved by @tomatoanus.bsky.social as we were. Massive thanks to Tommy for joining us for that prize segment.
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
Reposted by Michelle Appel
It was an absolute honor to have a moment to talk about mental health at AGDQ. Cannot express my gratitude to @shout.rocks for making this possible.
That rain outside the hotel means the sky was just as moved by @tomatoanus.bsky.social as we were. Massive thanks to Tommy for joining us for that prize segment.
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
Take their wisdom to heart. Please.
#AGDQ2026
January 10, 2026 at 8:30 PM
It was an absolute honor to have a moment to talk about mental health at AGDQ. Cannot express my gratitude to @shout.rocks for making this possible.