Michael Stambolis
@mstambolis.bsky.social
3.4K followers 2.3K following 2K posts
Sociologist. Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Toulouse - Jean Jaurès. Author of: By the Power Vested in Me (Columbia University Press, 2025). I study how experts participate in controversial political debates.
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mstambolis.bsky.social
By the Power Vested in Me is here!

Through the story of the fight over same-sex marriage in the United States and France, this book sheds new light on the contested power of experts to influence high-stakes democratic debates.

Get your copy wherever books are sold or here: tinyurl.com/37t88xme
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By the Power Vested in Me | Columbia University Press
In both the United States and France, each side of the legal battle over same-sex marriage and parenthood relied heavily on experts. Despite the similarity o... | CUP
tinyurl.com
mstambolis.bsky.social
Il avait de l'imagination celui-là
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
lebassett.bsky.social
I was working on the story and he just came out and said it
atrupar.com
RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
uneheuredepeine.bsky.social
Encore une victoire pour Samuel Beckett
luxalptraum.com
TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it
One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.
mstambolis.bsky.social
Je profite d'être à Paris pour manager dans un restaurant philipin. Trop bon et recommandé par un ami philipin. 😋

Bobi dans le 11e
Un cocktail et des rouleaux
mstambolis.bsky.social
C'est vrai que ce serait pas mal, notamment avec les salaires des collègues BIATTS...
mstambolis.bsky.social
Je le fais avec grand plaisir et je pense qu'il est très important qu'iels comprennent que iels peuvent prendre leur propre formation en main en faisant bouger les choses. J'adore l'université en partie parce que c'est dynamique et que les étudiant.e.s peuvent avoir du pouvoir.
mstambolis.bsky.social
Prochaine étape : double dutch!
mstambolis.bsky.social
Oui effectivement. Et je les comprends... il m'a fallu, quoi, aller, 10 ans, avant de comprendre les mécanismes de fonctionnement de l'université française.
mstambolis.bsky.social
Puis j'en profité pour leur dire qu'il y a une AG énorme inter UFR la semaine pro avec menace de grève, que je suis syndiqué, et qu'ils ont la possibilité de s'informer et de s'engager à travers leurs propres syndicats qui les représentent.
mstambolis.bsky.social
Ça dépend de l'année. Hier j'ai fait pour les L1 et donc en français. Comme on étudie des textes sur la politique et la démocratie, je leur ai dit que comprendre la réalité politique de l'institution qui est la leur n'est pas si éloigné du sujet du cours.
mstambolis.bsky.social
Au premier cours, j'essaie de faire une petite explication de l'université, de son fonctionnement, des différents statuts des intervenant·e·s en cours (non titulaires, titulaires, EC, E...), les conseils, les syndicats. La plupart des étudiant·e·s ne connaissent pas la réalité politique de la fac.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
marisakabas.bsky.social
Legacy media is such a fucking joke.
justinbaragona.bsky.social
Following MTG's lengthy CNN sitdown interview, Wolf Blitzer tells her:

"You‘re a courageous politician, but more important, a loving mother. Thanks very much for coming in. We hope you‘ll come back here in the Situation Room."
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
thomaszimmer.bsky.social
We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy.

Some thoughts from my new piece:

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We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly
Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy
steady.page
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
jasonkoebler.bsky.social
Some exciting news: 404 Media just won a grant via Muckrock to investigate book bans and educational censorship in the U.S. The plan is to file hundreds of public records requests around the country and to report on and archive all the documents for public use:

www.404media.co/help-us-inve...
Help Us Investigate Book Bans and Educational Censorship Around America
404 Media has gotten a grant to unearth public records about systematic censorship of books, schools, and libraries in the U.S.
www.404media.co
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
bernybelvedere.bsky.social
Doing politics the right way is when the far-right regime in power memorializes a fallen influencer by terrorizing an academic that the influencer's McCarthyist organization once baselessly singled out for abuse.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
karlbode.com
you'd think a prominent news outlet like the New York Times might mention that "antifa" isn't an actual organization in a long story about antifa, but nope!

and the subhead helps props up a false claim this professor was up to something seedy as something up for debate
NYT headline: "Rutgers Expert on Antifa Tries to Flee to Spain After Death Threats"

subheadline: "Mark Bray was teaching courses on antifascism. Turning Point USA accused him of belonging to antifa, which he denies. His flight to Spain was canceled abruptly on Wednesday night."
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
vtiberj.bsky.social
Where is the French democracy going?
Very proud of this new collective book

It adresses citizens, parties, institutions, social movements etc... and gathers a brilliant team of scholars
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
nhervieu.bsky.social
Pas après pas, aux Etats-Unis, l'opposition politique est criminalisée :

- D'abord, qualifier les «antifas» de «terroristes»

- Ensuite, cibler leurs « soutiens »

- Désormais, viser les « Socialistes démocrates d'Amérique » (AOC, Sanders, Mamdani, etc.)

Qui ont pour seul tort d'être... de gauche.
atrupar.com
Jonathan Choe to Trump: "Another group right now that is behind antifa and working with antifa very closely based on the research that we have right now that we're gonna give to you and your team are the Democratic Socialists of America."
mstambolis.bsky.social
Quelle est la légitimité de cet individu pour s'exprimer sur quoi que ce soit? Ministre démissionnaire d'un "gouvernement" n'ayant même pas eu le temps de se réunir en conseil. Il a tellement soif de pouvoir qu'il va faire comme il existait...
EN DIRECT, crise politique : la France respectera ses engagements européens et disposera d’un budget en 2026, assure Roland Lescure