Philip Nel
LightNews LightNews
banner
philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel
@philnel.bsky.social
780 followers 590 following 720 posts

👨🏼‍🏫 Prof. he/him.
📚 Books on children's books & comics: https://philnel.com/writing/books/
📷 IG: thephilnel
🐘 Mastodon: @[email protected]
🎵 Spotify: thephilnel
🐦 Twitter (deleted acct in 2022): @philnel

Videos

Philip W. Nel is an American scholar of children's literature and University Distinguished Professor of English at Kansas State University. He is best known for his work on Dr. Seuss and Harry Potter, which has led to him being a guest on such media programs as CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation, and CNN's Don Lemon Tonight. .. more

Art 33%
Communication & Media Studies 22%
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · Jul 26
1/2 ⬇️ This is an excellent idea & I am co-signing & invite my fellow academics to join me. Academia depends on a lot of unpaid labor. Withhold your labor from Columbia. ⬇️
jtlg.bsky.social James Grimmelmann @jtlg.bsky.social · Jul 25
In light of Columbia's capitulation to the Trump regime's illegal and extortionate demands, I have resolved not to write for Columbia publications, speak at Columbia events, or perform other free labor for a university that has repudated its values.

3d.laboratorium.net/2025-07-25-c...
Columbia’s Capitulation
Universities exist to promote the discovery, preservation, and transmission of knowledge. While they can help make to make a society virtuous, prosperous, and free, they do so by pursing their mission...
3d.laboratorium.net

Reposted by Philip Nel

mattmfm.bsky.social
Matt McDermott @mattmfm.bsky.social · 1d
A must read investigation into a Mexican immigrant with no criminal record who was hospitalized in Minneapolis with multiple skull fractures while in ICE custody.

Federal agents claim he ran headfirst into a wall. Doctors determined that was impossible.

abc7ny.com/post/ice-min...

Reposted by Philip Nel

washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1d
If you're watching this, the government is shut down.

Reporter Jacob Bogage breaks down which services are open and which are closed during the shutdown. https://wapo.st/4alk8qJ

Reposted by Reece Jones, Ben H. Ansell, Tom Clark , and 17 more

jcollins.bsky.social
Jon Collins @jcollins.bsky.social · 1d
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org

Reposted by Philip Nel

propublica.org
ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d
NEW: Our photojournalists @cengizyar.com and @peterdicampo.bsky.social were on the ground in Minneapolis, covering what they saw in the days before and after the shooting of Alex Pretti.

Read their accounts below:
What We Saw in Minneapolis
Our visual journalists documented the days surrounding Alex Pretti’s killing in Minneapolis.
www.propublica.org

Reposted by Philip Nel

susanmarieswanson.bsky.social
Susan Marie Swanson @susanmarieswanson.bsky.social · 1d
Four minutes of your day. Watch this video of children at Valley View Elementary in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, reading their beautiful writing aloud.

To ICE: "I think you should make friends with the world."

What a privilege to get a glimpse of this sunlit, caring school community.
Opinion | ICE Took Their Classmate. They Started Writing Letters.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Philip Nel

in-otter-news.bsky.social
In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 3d
Steve would like to show you his favourite rock.
Thanks, Steve. It's a great rock.

philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 3d
Bruce Cockburn, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”
Jane Siberry, “The Gospel According to Darkness”
Tragically Hip, “It’s a Good Life… Don’t Weaken”
Cowboy Junkies, “Miles from Our Home”
Leonard Cohen, “Tower of Song”

Reposted by Philip Nel, Kate Starbird, Greg Linden

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 3d
Of the biggest scandals in US history just this week, I think I’d rank them:

1) Federal paramilitaries invade US city based on racist lies, murder US citizens

2) Slush fund for the president from stolen foreign resources held in Qatar

3) Whatever FBI and DNI are doing re: 2020 election in Georgia

philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 4d
"Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing thru' the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
& the stranger in our midst
Here in our home they killed & roamed
In the winter of ’26
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis"
—Bruce Springsteen #ICEoutNOW #AbolishICE
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
www.youtube.com

philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 4d
“Regimes that rely on repression face a challenge: The more force they deploy, the more they risk exposing their own brutality to politically persuadable observers. Overreach doesn’t just project strength; it also undermines legitimacy.”

philnel.bsky.social
Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 4d
Attention, Democratic Party: This is what real LEADERSHIP looks like.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d
Mamdani: "I said to the president directly that these ICE raids are cruel & do nothing to actually serve the interests of public safety. Public safety is of paramount importance to us. But to use it as a justification to pull people out of their cars, out of their homes, out of their lives ... "

Reposted by Philip Nel

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d
Mamdani: "I said to the president directly that these ICE raids are cruel & do nothing to actually serve the interests of public safety. Public safety is of paramount importance to us. But to use it as a justification to pull people out of their cars, out of their homes, out of their lives ... "

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Philip Nel

talimendelberg.bsky.social
talimendelberg.bsky.social @talimendelberg.bsky.social · 4d
We’re Seeing the Weakness of a Strong State www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/o...
Opinion | We’re Seeing the Weakness of a Strong State
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Philip Nel

lutzfernandez.bsky.social
Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 4d
"The key point, however, is that all this is about avoiding an outcome where Congress seriously restricts DHS. The goal is to not change the overall approach." - @gregsargent.bsky.social on the not-pivot
Donald Trump Is Frightened
Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.
newrepublic.com

Reposted by David Rothschild, Philip Nel, Michael D. McDonald

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 4d
The intense fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti has forced President Trump to publicly change course in Minneapolis.

Listen to our White House reporters discuss the changes on today's episode of "The Daily."
Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis
The White House has been met with broad outcry over the killing of Alex Pretti, as well as pushback from Congress.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Elizabeth Sharrow, Nandita Sharma, John McLaren , and 7 more

thetnholler.bsky.social
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 4d
REP. OMAR after being attacked with liquid: “We will continue! These fucking assholes are not gonna get away with this! Here is the reality people like this ugly man don’t understand — we are Minnesota Strong. We’ll stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”

Reposted by Philip Nel

pronounced-ing.bsky.social
Celeste Ng @pronounced-ing.bsky.social · 4d
Someone out there is impersonating me using AI generated emails. Please know
I will never email you asking you to pay me for a service. (Also, this is NOT me, that is NOTA my email, and those book covers resemble mine but are clearly AI generated...)
Screengrab of a footer purporting to be Celeste Ng (it is NOT). Text reads: "Kind regards, Celeste Celeste Ng #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Author of internationally acclaimed novels Recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship Winner, Amazon Book of the Year Award Website: www.celesteng.com Email: info.celesteng@gmail.com United States" A picture shows an east Asian woman (NOT Celeste Ng) beside a book resembling Everything I Never Told you, a book resembling Little Fires Everywhere, and another copy of Little Fires Everywhere that does not resemble any real copy. Close examination of these covers reveals misspellings and strange design elements that suggest AI generation.

Reposted by Philip Nel, Timothy D. McBride

newsweek.com
Newsweek @newsweek.com · 5d
A federal judge ruled that a father and his 5-year-old son who were detained by ICE cannot be removed from the country
Major Update in Case Involving Five-Year-Old Detained by ICE
www.newsweek.com

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Philip Nel, Ann Bartow , and 1 more

pressley.house.gov
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley @pressley.house.gov · 5d
There's no ICE accountability without ending qualified immunity.

They're murdering people. There won't be justice for the lives they've stolen, but there must be accountability.

My bill with @markey.senate.gov would ensure families can sue the agents murdering their loved ones.

Reposted by Kelly R. Zamudio, Philip Nel, Cynthia Miller‐Idriss

danifroom.bsky.social
Danielle Froom 🏳️‍🌈 @danifroom.bsky.social · 5d
Sesame Street is now offering tips for parents on post-trauma comfort because the federal government is physically and mentally abusing our country's children.
Sesame Street Instagram: Big Bird snuggling a smaller bird. Offering comfort in Scary Times: After a violent event, children of different ages will have different needs. These age based strategies can help them feel safer and more secure.

Reposted by Richard Price, Steve Peers, John McLaren , and 7 more

newrepublic.com
The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 5d
Amazon’s MGM studios spent tens of millions, but the documentary is projected to make just $1M in its first week.

This comes as a new report from Rolling Stone details serious labor issues and two-thirds of the film’s staff requesting not to be credited at the end of the film. trib.al/Clr03cD
Melania Documentary Flops as Crew Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
The first lady’s documentary was a mess in production—and now it’s struggling at the box office.
trib.al

Reposted by Philip Nel

markjacob.bsky.social
Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 5d
Trump can fire Bovino to save himself and he may even fire Noem to save himself, but this country won’t be saved until we fire Trump.
Keep going, resisters. We’re going to win in the end.

Reposted by Elizabeth Sharrow, Steven Heydemann, Will Jennings , and 13 more

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 5d
if bovino is out and conservatives are turning on noem then there is a real opportunity to demand that miller resign too.

Reposted by Philip Nel

502eire.lol
Dawn @502eire.lol · 5d
gee whiz it would be really great if the opposition party smelled blood in the water right now and went on a full offensive to harness this spark of momentum

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel, Nathan P. Kalmoe , and 2 more

mspdawg.bsky.social
Thorpe Langton @mspdawg.bsky.social · 5d
Hey, let’s go to Maine in the dead of winter, a time of year that certainly won’t make us more recognizable to a populace that has the ability to spot an out-of-stater from 500 yards away.

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Joanna Bryson, Nandita Sharma , and 14 more

kimlanelaw.bsky.social
Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 5d
ICE is changing tactics in Maine: "Now, the volunteers in Maine say federal agents have started showing up at their homes and intimidating them or threatening arrest. Some of them, masked and wearing tactical gear, have issued stark warnings not to follow them." www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
ICE watchers in Maine say they were threatened by federal agents
Community members have been monitoring the activity of immigration agents in Greater Portland.
www.pressherald.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Richard S.J. Tol, Dorothy Bishop , and 13 more

ayoub.bsky.social
elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 6d
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.

It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
The Legislation Upon winning a general election, a Reform government under Prime Minister Nigel Farage will: 1) Leave the ECHR 2.) Repeal the Human Rights Act and replace it with a British Bill of Rights. 3.) Pass The Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Bill: This Bill will: Create a legal duty to remove illegal migrants for the Home Secretary The Bill opens with a blunt obligation for the Home Secretary: "The Secretary of State shall ensure the removal from the United Kingdom of each person who does not have extant leave to remain and is not an Irish citizen or otherwise protected by regulations made under this Act." The following parts of the legislation are introduced on an emergency basis, with an in-built sunset clause after 5 years: Disapply the 1951 Refugee Convention, the UN Convention Against Torture, the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention (ECAT) Derogation is justified under the Vienna Convention doctrine of state of necessity: Britain faces a national emergency in which uncontrolled illegal migration undermines public order. These treaties will otherwise be used by activist judges to frustrate deportations, even after the repeals of the HRA and ECHR. Create Detention Power Without Hardial Singh Constraints This means illegal migrants can be detained until they are deported. Activist lawyers routinely use Hardial Singh to secure their client's bail, after which the client absconds. If you came to the UK illegally, you are ineligible for asylum. End of story All asylum claims will become inadmissible if made by a person within the Act's scope. If you came to the country illegally, you are ineligible for asylum in the UK. This strips the Home Office, the immigration tribunals and the higher courts of jurisdiction to even consider claims. A claim that cannot be considered cannot suspend removal and therefore, cannot delay a flight. Re-entering after deportation and destroying ID becomes a serious criminal offence Re-entry after deportation will be… The Operational Plan We will create an enforcement unit called UK Deportation Command, including an Illegal Migrant Identification Centre - harnessing cutting edge data fusion A Reform government will create a cutting edge enforcement data centre to relentlessly identify and detain all illegal migrants in the UK. Using powers granted by the new legislation, it will automatically share data between the Home Office, NHS, HMRC, DVLA, banks and the police. It will power bulk warrants, including mandatory biometric capture during any police encounter. Each power addresses a failure mode observed over the past decade - for example, banks and GP surgeries unaware of a customer's status, or overstayers slipping through because a warrant covered only a single property. Secure Immigration Removal Centres (SIRC) will be built rapidly to detain up to 24,000 Detention capacity for up to 24,000 will be created within 18 months. The Home Office will build Secure Immigration Removal Centres. This will be modular accommodation built in remote parts of the country. Conditions are basic but not punitive: prefabricated two-person rooms, canteen catering, on-site medical suites. Robust perimeters and internal movement controls prevent escapes. This enables detention-on-arrest: no more bail. This capacity would allow for up to 24,000 illegal migrants to be deported per month. Initial Voluntary Return Window A six-month Assisted Voluntary Return window precedes large-scale raids. Illegal migrants will be offered a financial incentive to self-deport. An app will be launched to facilitate this. The Deportation Flights The Home Office will scale up charters to 5 flights per day. To guard against last-minute aircraft unserviceability, the RAF will keep one Voyager aircraft on six-hour 'hot-spare' readiness. If a commercial charter breaks down, detainees can still be flown out that night, preserving operational integrity. The legal reset will mean activist lawyers will no longer be able preven…

Reposted by Philip Nel

indivisiblemhk.bsky.social
Indivisible MHK @indivisiblemhk.bsky.social · 8d
🧊 At 9º F (-6º chill) 17*, standing with Minnesota, Friday, Manhattan, Kansas. #ICEOUTforGood #AbolishICE @maddow.bsky.social @mnindivisible.bsky.social
🙋 What is the best caption for our photo? Vote w/ 🐧 or ⛄ emoji!
⛄ Friday's Frozen 15 Fighting Fascism
🐧 Penguin Patriots Opposing Putin's Puppet

Reposted by Kimberly A. Prather, Will Jennings, Kelly R. Zamudio , and 32 more

dimitridrekonja.bsky.social
Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 8d
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.

White. Hot. Rage.

Reposted by Philip Nel

50501movement.bsky.social
50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 8d
Call 202-224-6542, Hit 3, and than hit any button to call Chuck Schumer and tell him that this DHS budget cannot pass.

If you need any inspiration, our National Press Coordinator @hunterisntdunn.bsky.social, implored Schumer’s office to stop more blood from getting on their hands.