Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
@phdrachel.bsky.social
Public Historian/Prof; Voting rights, suffrage, & citizenship; 🗃️
On The Great Courses & Audible
Views=my own. On #TikTok
http://buymeacoffee.com/PhDRachel
On The Great Courses & Audible
Views=my own. On #TikTok
http://buymeacoffee.com/PhDRachel
Pinned
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
FDA reverses surprise rejection of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
FDA reverses surprise rejection of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine
Trump admin's vaccine chief overruled FDA scientists to initially reject the shot.
arstechnica.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:50 PM
FDA reverses surprise rejection of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
This is the kind of thing white supremacists have been doing to Emmett Till’s memorial for decades.
It’s wild to see them do this to a white woman who the entire world saw extrajudicially murdered.
It’s wild to see them do this to a white woman who the entire world saw extrajudicially murdered.
Someone doused Renee Good’s Minneapolis memorial and a nearby pile of wood with gasoline and started a fire at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Renee Good memorial site in south Minneapolis doused in gasoline
Damage was minimal but police are investigating.
bit.ly
February 18, 2026 at 5:19 PM
This is the kind of thing white supremacists have been doing to Emmett Till’s memorial for decades.
It’s wild to see them do this to a white woman who the entire world saw extrajudicially murdered.
It’s wild to see them do this to a white woman who the entire world saw extrajudicially murdered.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
There is a world changing technological leap happening right now, and it's happening in green energy, and the right is desperately (and unsuccessfully) trying to stop it. But I guess that doesn't count
every leftist i know is very excited about technology but unfortunately they want tech that improves society and makes people's lives easier and that's harder for wealthy prdophiles to build a trillion dollar industry bubble around
February 18, 2026 at 4:16 PM
There is a world changing technological leap happening right now, and it's happening in green energy, and the right is desperately (and unsuccessfully) trying to stop it. But I guess that doesn't count
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Just talked in class about the role local chambers played in supporting school desegregation because white resistance hurt their bottom line.
As a leader of Atlanta's CoC said, they weren't "a bunch of do-gooders." They were "hard-headed businessmen who know you can't sell peanuts at a funeral."
As a leader of Atlanta's CoC said, they weren't "a bunch of do-gooders." They were "hard-headed businessmen who know you can't sell peanuts at a funeral."
libs getting the chamber of commerce in the national divorce, sure, why not, welcome aboard
www.reuters.com/world/us-cou...
www.reuters.com/world/us-cou...
February 18, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Just talked in class about the role local chambers played in supporting school desegregation because white resistance hurt their bottom line.
As a leader of Atlanta's CoC said, they weren't "a bunch of do-gooders." They were "hard-headed businessmen who know you can't sell peanuts at a funeral."
As a leader of Atlanta's CoC said, they weren't "a bunch of do-gooders." They were "hard-headed businessmen who know you can't sell peanuts at a funeral."
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
i really love @alexiscoe.bsky.social's biography of washington because she gets at exactly this: the fact that "george washington" is a character created by george washington, a man so consumed with presenting himself as an example of republican virtue that he became one
The Uncanny Artifice of George Washington
I got a number of fascinating replies to yesterday’s post about the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 18, 2026 at 4:29 PM
i really love @alexiscoe.bsky.social's biography of washington because she gets at exactly this: the fact that "george washington" is a character created by george washington, a man so consumed with presenting himself as an example of republican virtue that he became one
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
What you're calling AI is a machine that's good at guessing the order of words but has zero understanding of what those words mean or their context.
"AI" is as intelligent as your friend from highschool that copied your physics test answers but occasionally put random unrelated words within it.
"AI" is as intelligent as your friend from highschool that copied your physics test answers but occasionally put random unrelated words within it.
February 18, 2026 at 12:46 PM
What you're calling AI is a machine that's good at guessing the order of words but has zero understanding of what those words mean or their context.
"AI" is as intelligent as your friend from highschool that copied your physics test answers but occasionally put random unrelated words within it.
"AI" is as intelligent as your friend from highschool that copied your physics test answers but occasionally put random unrelated words within it.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Now available for free! Please check out this important special issue. Now more than ever, the Civil War era provides us with important lessons for our harrowing current moment
What Is To Be Done? Historians of Crisis in a Moment of Crisis a special Issue of @jcwe.bsky.social is available to READ FOR FREE now on @projectmuse.bsky.social.
18 Civil War–era historians reflect on scholarship, teaching & today’s political crisis. Read it now👇
muse.jhu.edu/journal/516
18 Civil War–era historians reflect on scholarship, teaching & today’s political crisis. Read it now👇
muse.jhu.edu/journal/516
Project MUSE - The Journal of the Civil War Era
muse.jhu.edu
February 17, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Now available for free! Please check out this important special issue. Now more than ever, the Civil War era provides us with important lessons for our harrowing current moment
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
So the Obama administration oral history project went live today. An extraordinary resource for historians and teachers, and a great credit to the team of folks who compiled them all, including Evan McCormick, @pastpunditry.bsky.social and many others.
Obama Presidency Oral History
The Obama Presidency as told by 450+ officials, activists, organizers, and extraordinary people from all walks of life.
share.google
February 17, 2026 at 11:50 PM
So the Obama administration oral history project went live today. An extraordinary resource for historians and teachers, and a great credit to the team of folks who compiled them all, including Evan McCormick, @pastpunditry.bsky.social and many others.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
I don't believe I've ever seen Ted Levine speak so candidly about his regrets of portraying Buffalo Bill in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He and some of the crew on the film were asked about the film's cultural transphobia by The Hollywood Reporter.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
February 17, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I don't believe I've ever seen Ted Levine speak so candidly about his regrets of portraying Buffalo Bill in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He and some of the crew on the film were asked about the film's cultural transphobia by The Hollywood Reporter.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Coverage of Andy Barr, a sitting Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, running an ad declaring, "It's not a sin to be white" -- a variation of a notorious white nationalist slogan
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
Major corporations bankroll political ad featuring white supremacist slogan
Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), who is running to replace Mitch McConnell in the United States Senate, released his first television ad earlier this month.
popular.info
February 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Coverage of Andy Barr, a sitting Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, running an ad declaring, "It's not a sin to be white" -- a variation of a notorious white nationalist slogan
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Precisely. The subject of one of my favorite pieces by Lynn Hunt, which I love teaching
February 17, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Precisely. The subject of one of my favorite pieces by Lynn Hunt, which I love teaching
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
I know I said this in my other thread, but it bears repeating: the censorship of Colbert's interview of Talarico is about the regime trying to dictate a state religion, and then controlling critiques of it.
February 17, 2026 at 12:40 PM
I know I said this in my other thread, but it bears repeating: the censorship of Colbert's interview of Talarico is about the regime trying to dictate a state religion, and then controlling critiques of it.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
February 17, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
I often think about the fact that if the FBI et al had not killed Fred Hampton, he would be 78 today. Younger than Jesse Jackson was. Must have felt strange to outlive many of your contemporaries by decades.
February 17, 2026 at 12:13 PM
I often think about the fact that if the FBI et al had not killed Fred Hampton, he would be 78 today. Younger than Jesse Jackson was. Must have felt strange to outlive many of your contemporaries by decades.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
“[James Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said.
Stephen Colbert blasted Brendan Carr after FCC scrutiny led CBS to pull an interview with Texas State Rep James Talarico. Instead, 'The Late Show' posted it to YouTube.
Colbert Says CBS Pulled Guest Over FCC Scrutiny; Posts Interview to YouTube Instead
Stephen Colbert blasted Brendan Carr after FCC scrutiny led CBS to pull an interview with Texas State Rep James Talarico. Instead, 'The Late Show' posted it to YouTube.
dlvr.it
February 17, 2026 at 6:10 AM
“[James Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
So you're saying ICE is incompatible with the rule of law as practiced in this nation from the founding?
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Rep. Mark Alford: "If you tie a judicial warrant to what ICE is doing, it will never happen"
February 16, 2026 at 8:07 PM
So you're saying ICE is incompatible with the rule of law as practiced in this nation from the founding?
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
FWIW, I just emailed NYT's standards editor to ask about the paper's policy on this. Will update if I get a response.
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 7:42 PM
FWIW, I just emailed NYT's standards editor to ask about the paper's policy on this. Will update if I get a response.
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Oh my. Another of the greats leaves us.
Hard to pick his most outstanding role, but I will never forget him in the Apostle, a movie he self-funded and directed himself.
#hatm
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/m...
Hard to pick his most outstanding role, but I will never forget him in the Apostle, a movie he self-funded and directed himself.
#hatm
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/m...
Robert Duvall, Chameleonlike Actor of Film, Stage and TV, Dies at 95
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Oh my. Another of the greats leaves us.
Hard to pick his most outstanding role, but I will never forget him in the Apostle, a movie he self-funded and directed himself.
#hatm
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/m...
Hard to pick his most outstanding role, but I will never forget him in the Apostle, a movie he self-funded and directed himself.
#hatm
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/m...
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Presidents' Day you say? Why? To do what? Especially now!
It is an impetus, at least for a moment, to interrogate "the origins of the [presidential] office and what was intended by Washington & the other framers at the Constitutional Convention" as Lindsay Chervinsky said.🗃️ time.com/7377739/pres...
It is an impetus, at least for a moment, to interrogate "the origins of the [presidential] office and what was intended by Washington & the other framers at the Constitutional Convention" as Lindsay Chervinsky said.🗃️ time.com/7377739/pres...
10 Surprising Facts About Presidents' Day
Here's what makes the federal holiday a distinct, and often misunderstood, occasion.
time.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Presidents' Day you say? Why? To do what? Especially now!
It is an impetus, at least for a moment, to interrogate "the origins of the [presidential] office and what was intended by Washington & the other framers at the Constitutional Convention" as Lindsay Chervinsky said.🗃️ time.com/7377739/pres...
It is an impetus, at least for a moment, to interrogate "the origins of the [presidential] office and what was intended by Washington & the other framers at the Constitutional Convention" as Lindsay Chervinsky said.🗃️ time.com/7377739/pres...
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
So we’ve partnered with Morgan Freeman’s production company. No biggie. Details below. ⬇️
open.substack.com/pub/jasonher...
open.substack.com/pub/jasonher...
The Gray House
Big news about our new partnership
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:21 PM
So we’ve partnered with Morgan Freeman’s production company. No biggie. Details below. ⬇️
open.substack.com/pub/jasonher...
open.substack.com/pub/jasonher...
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Among the many insights in this fascinating book is that people basically use gambling to dissociate from profound loneliness and unhappiness. It’s not to win or even for fun, it’s just to compulsively cover up sad numbness. Really sad and thought-provoking book (also fascinating phenomenology!)
A book I highly recommend on electronic slot machines—which fully convinced me they should be illegal for how they systematically mislead our brains—is Natasha Dow Schüll‘s ADDICTION BY DESIGN
Gamified online gambling seems much worse, & is becoming much more ubiquitous
It will immiserate so many
Gamified online gambling seems much worse, & is becoming much more ubiquitous
It will immiserate so many
I see no reason not to look at the online gambling and prediction market craze as a new opioids crisis.
It will wreak havoc on lower-income Americans and leave a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The companies are just Purdue Pharma 2.0
www.liberalcurrents.com/from-pill-mi...
It will wreak havoc on lower-income Americans and leave a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The companies are just Purdue Pharma 2.0
www.liberalcurrents.com/from-pill-mi...
February 16, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Among the many insights in this fascinating book is that people basically use gambling to dissociate from profound loneliness and unhappiness. It’s not to win or even for fun, it’s just to compulsively cover up sad numbness. Really sad and thought-provoking book (also fascinating phenomenology!)
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
The 9/11 joke is an interesting historical reference - this is roughly 2005, so that is going to be way more of a thing than in 2017. There's also that element of "can we joke about it yet" that persisted well beyond, though the ISIS reference places this in 2015-ish. #TheBigSick #HATM
February 16, 2026 at 2:01 AM
The 9/11 joke is an interesting historical reference - this is roughly 2005, so that is going to be way more of a thing than in 2017. There's also that element of "can we joke about it yet" that persisted well beyond, though the ISIS reference places this in 2015-ish. #TheBigSick #HATM
This runs in my family. When mom was on hospice, we went through her tbr book pile. She found one on organizing for a full life or something and joked “a little late for that” & chunked it into the trashcan. #HATM
One of my quirks, for better or worse, is trying to lighten a mood in situations. #HATM
February 16, 2026 at 2:02 AM
This runs in my family. When mom was on hospice, we went through her tbr book pile. She found one on organizing for a full life or something and joked “a little late for that” & chunked it into the trashcan. #HATM
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
I just realized that I think I like this so much because it reminds me of one of my favorite movies, The Apartment from 1960. It gets real dark in the middle, but is also lovely and funny.
#HATM #TheBigSick
#HATM #TheBigSick
a man sits at a table with a woman laying on a bed and says i just have this talent
ALT: a man sits at a table with a woman laying on a bed and says i just have this talent
media.tenor.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:53 AM
I just realized that I think I like this so much because it reminds me of one of my favorite movies, The Apartment from 1960. It gets real dark in the middle, but is also lovely and funny.
#HATM #TheBigSick
#HATM #TheBigSick
Reposted by Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. 🗃️
Oh, uh, hell, I get the Doc's approach and why he is asking for the "husband's approval" - but they just violated a series of ethic rules and probably laws.
#HATM
#HATM
February 16, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Oh, uh, hell, I get the Doc's approach and why he is asking for the "husband's approval" - but they just violated a series of ethic rules and probably laws.
#HATM
#HATM