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Philip Nel

@philnel.bsky.social

740 followers 560 following 660 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

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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%

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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. ⬇️

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

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Avery Udagawa @averyudagawa.bsky.social · 2h

Read "Being Banned is Not an Award," @philnel.bsky.social's incisive piece for #IBBY #Bookbird 63:3, free through 31 Oct 2025: tinyurl.com/3hy62uye #BannedBooksWeek

Project MUSE - "Being Banned Is Not an Award"

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel, Alan Richardson , and 2 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, David Rosnick, Henrik Skaug Sætra

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 5h

Is it cancel culture when they threaten to kill you?

www.nj.com/news/2025/10...

Sold-out Ta-Nehisi Coates speaker appearance in N.J. canceled over security reasons

Organizers canceled a sold-out Ta-Nehisi Coates event in Montclair citing undisclosed security concerns.

www.nj.com

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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 6h

Why

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Democratic troop pay bill blocked in House amid shutdown

GOP leaders are seeking to keep pressure on Democrats to reopen the whole government.

www.politico.com

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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 6h

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Shantha Mohan, Ph.D., DTM @shlead.bsky.social · 6h

"Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow."
- Langston Hughes

Wishing you a beautiful evening & a great weekend!💜 💚

#FlowersOnFriday
#FloralFriday
#PurpleFriday
#ImageandVerse

#dailyflowers 🌱
#flowerreport
#bloomscrolling

A cluster of purple verbena flowers.

Camera: iPhone 15 Pro.

August 2025. From a neighborhood walk.

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Julia Lynch , and 1 more Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Julia Lynch, Suzanne Conklin Akbari

Nora Reed (they/them ze/hir) @nora.zone · 7h

cry havoc and let slip the frogs of war

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Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 17h

Thanks, Harold! I appreciate you sharing via social media — and with the people in your workshop.

Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 17h

Thanks, Nick! 🖍️ Crayons of the world, unite!

Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 19h

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a manifesto for human creativity disguised as a children's book. I wrote about it.
blog.oup.com/2025/10/turn...

Turn off AI. Pick up a crayon.

Google Gemini offers “a new way to bring your imagination to life.” Adobe Firefly promises “The ultimate creative AI solution.” And Craiyon invites you to “Create AI Art.” Don't believe the tech hype.

blog.oup.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Els Torreele

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 1d

If you love your country, you must find a way to get to a No Kings protest on Saturday, Oct. 18. Go to this link to find an event near you. Bring your family and friends.
These protests are an upper, not a downer. They're proof positive that many of us are determined to defend our democracy.

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

www.nokings.org

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman , and 1 more Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 1d

Oklahoma’s Republican governor criticizes guard deployment. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, on Thursday criticized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois as a violation of his beliefs in federalism and “states’ rights.”

His comments, in an interview with The New York Times, marked the first time a Republican governor has questioned the interstate deployment of National Guard troops over a governor’s objections. Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and other Democratic elected officials have been strongly critical of the move and have implored Republican governors to join the opposition.

Mr. Stitt on Thursday said, “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” adding, “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Eric Goldman, Philip Nel , and 4 more Brendan Nyhan, Eric Goldman, Philip Nel, Joseph Schafer, Alfie Kohn, Simon Lester, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 1d

Nothing remotely resembling an insurrection is happening anywhere in the country. Any violence associated with protest has been isolated, mild, and, in nearly every case, instigated by federal law enforcement. If we let Trump get away with calling dissent an insurrection, our republic is over.

BREAKING: Trump Admin 'Seriously' Considering Using the Insurrection Act, Reports NBC

President Trump is "seriously" considering invoking the Insurrection Act in order to more easily deploy National Guard troops to major cities as part of crime crackdown, NBC reported on Wednesday

www.mediaite.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Smith, Melanie C. Green

Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 1d

It cannot be made clearer.

If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.

JK Rowling pledges to keep up fight against SNP trans policies

Author vows to bankroll campaigners after Scottish government fails to pay group's legal fees in Supreme Court equality case

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Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 2d

Tom Nichols has become the NYT Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 2d

Seriously, politicians need to cut the f'n swearing:
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Politicians Aren’t Cool Enough to Curse This Much

Political leaders once watched their language. Now they delight in using obscenity.

www.theatlantic.com

Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks, Trip! I hadn't seen this!

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 2d

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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Reposted by John McLaren, Philip Nel, Smith , and 4 more John McLaren, Philip Nel, Smith, Alan Richardson, Mary Jane Curry, Larry W. Hunter, Katelyn K. Jetelina

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 2d

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

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Reposted by Philip Nel, David R. Miller, Simon Lester

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 2d

Seriously, politicians need to cut the f'n swearing:
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Politicians Aren’t Cool Enough to Curse This Much

Political leaders once watched their language. Now they delight in using obscenity.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 2d

What happens now that Republicans shut down the government?

- Federal workers stop getting paid
- Air travel could be delayed
- Food inspection services may be delayed
- Head Start services may be disrupted
- Passport + Visa applications could slow
- National Parks may shut down

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Hopkins Press @hopkinspress.bsky.social · 2d

Philip Nel warns against the ways institutional book banning efforts lead to self-censorship

Read "Being Banned Is Not an Award" in the new issue of Bookbird

Free on @projectmuse.bsky.social thru 31 October

tinyurl.com/3hy62uye

#AcademicSky #BannedBooksWeek

“Having one's book banned is not a prize. It's an assault on the right to read. And, worse, official acts of censorship beget quiet censorship, done in anticipation of criticism.

As frequently banned author Malinda Lo writes, "Self-censorship is possibly the most difficult kind of censorship to fight because it is generally not publicly admitted. It's done quietly, in private. If nobody knows it's happening, how can anyone object?"”

"Being Banned Is Not an Award"
Philip Nel

Bookbird
A Journal of International Children's Literature
Volume 63, Number 3, 2025

Read free thru 31 October 2025

Illustrated with the cover art from the new issue of Bookbird

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Mary Jane Curry

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 2d

It's Banned Books Week. If you are an author, please join @authorsabb.bsky.social! If you work in the publishing industry, please join @pubprosabb.bsky.social! Canadian authors, you can now join Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book bans: linktr.ee/caiabb. Working together feels good! 📚✍️👏

The black and white cover of a zine titled Do you make books? Yes? I want YOU to join Authors Against Book Bans! By Maia Kobabe. The image shows author Maia Kobabe holding a stack of books and pointing at the reader

WHAT IS AABB?
A coalition of writers, illustrators, editors & other book creators, standing united against the unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. We support the availability of diverse voices in our libraries, in our schools, & in our culture. We pledge to band together against the oppression of literature, to speak when our voices are silenced, to go where our bodies are needed, & to fight to ensure this freedom.

Our concern is not only for the books, but for the children, families, educators,
librarians, & communities who suffer when the freedom to read is challenged and taken away.

WHAT CAN AABB OFFER YOU?
- Regional groups working on legislation to protect authors & the freedom to read state-by-state
- Online trainings on digital security, public speaking, & how to counter book challenges in your community
-Affinity groups for BIPOC authors, queer authors, authors with disabilities, indie, nonfiction, romance writers & more
-Support if your book is challenged or your school visit is canceled!
-A very active discord community

Maia: I’ve been facing intense challenges to my book since 2021. Knowing that I am not alone in the fight against censorship is what keeps my spirits up!

Watching the folks in AABB share information, co-write legislation, show up to library & school board meetings, & speak up to publishers about the need to protect diverse books & minority authors has been amazing!

This is a weird & scary time to be an author, but you are not alone! Join thousands of us fighting for the freedom to read, the freedom to write, the freedom to teach, the freedom to learn, & the freedom to share our stories!
-Maia Kobabe, 2025

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Reposted by David M. Schultz, Iain Davidson, Philip Nel

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

This powerful JB Pritzker response to Trump's lawless threats is another reminder of what I tried to argue this morning: Pritzker understands Stephen Miller's theory of this moment, and he's responding accordingly:

newrepublic.com/article/2014...

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Reposted by Philip Nel

NPR @npr.org · 2d

Thirty of Ross' trademark landscapes will be sold at a series of auctions starting in November. He painted many of them live on The Joy of Painting, which started airing on PBS in the 1980s. n.pr/474wJvJ

Dozens of Bob Ross paintings will be auctioned to help public TV after funding cuts

Thirty of Ross' trademark landscapes will be sold at a series of auctions starting in November. He painted many of them live on The Joy of Painting, which started airing on PBS in the 1980s.

n.pr

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Reposted by Philip Nel

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 2d

Americans—and even many Republicans in Congress—don’t like it when an unelected bureaucrat makes huge cuts to the government. But the administration is already repeating its mistake of giving free rein to a nihilist.
trib.al/JiFlwNz

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Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Robert W. Wallace, Mark D. White , and 3 more Anne Applebaum, Robert W. Wallace, Mark D. White, Philip Nel, James Goodwin, David Darmofal

Jon Passantino @passantino.bsky.social · 2d

CNN is now using the Trump preferred “Department of War” name in its official statements

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 2d

It's MacArthur day! It's MacArthur day!

I have a little ritual where, every announcement day, I watch the video, read the Fellows' bios, and ask myself how I'm being creative in my own work. Just a nice push to think outside the box.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ3K...

Meet the 2025 MacArthur Fellows

YouTube video by macfound

m.youtube.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Allegra Kirkland @allegrak.bsky.social · 2d

Lindsey Burke, ex-Heritage Foundation policy director + lead author of Project 2025's education section, is now a top Education Dept advisor.

She wants to see a dramatic decline in public school enrollment: “We’re going to have a lot of empty school buildings.”
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/top-tru...

Top Trump Education Officials Are Dismantling Public Schools: ‘We’re Going to Have a Lot of Empty School Buildings’

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Greg Linden

Jacqueline Sweet @jsweetli.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: A MAGA X account often shared by Senator Mike Lee and House Republicans like Nancy Mace--that often alleges Democrats encourage voting fraud-- is run by a man who not only has never stepped foot in the US, he also illegally donated to an American campaign.

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

The Viral MAGA Accounts Run by a Man Who Has Never Been to America

Two influential MAGA social media accounts are run by Rumen Naumovski, a Macedonian who may have illegally donated to a U.S. election.

www.rollingstone.com

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

Pritzker/Newsom see it as a defining fact of the moment that Trump is consolidating authoritarian power daily and using it to subjugate Blue America like an enemy nation within. Other Dems should stop the Beltway-speak about Trump laying "traps" for them and engage.

newrepublic.com/article/2014...

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Reposted by Philip Nel

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 3d

“Never before have we issued a joint public warning like this. But the profound, immediate and unprecedented threat that Kennedy’s policies and positions pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

wapo.st

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