ZJBardou
@zjbardou.bsky.social
Composition. Rhetoric. Literature. Music. Food. Hockey. Birds, Beasts, Trees, Flowers. He/Him.
“[T]he task of democracy is forever that of creation of a freer and more humane experience in which all share and to which all contribute.”
“[T]he task of democracy is forever that of creation of a freer and more humane experience in which all share and to which all contribute.”
Reposted by ZJBardou
Seems like a good day to repost my two articles on the separation of powers and the danger of executive tyranny.
one: www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/u...
one: www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/u...
December 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Seems like a good day to repost my two articles on the separation of powers and the danger of executive tyranny.
one: www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/u...
one: www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/u...
Reposted by ZJBardou
Tune in to the latest episode of @kpfa.org's Against the Grain to hear @alybatt.bsky.social discuss her new book, Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature:
Capitalism and the Price of Nature | KPFA
The drive to put prices on everything is a basic feature of capitalism. Political theorist Alyssa Battistoni asks then why capitalism has failed at putting a price on so much of nature, which she…
kpfa.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Tune in to the latest episode of @kpfa.org's Against the Grain to hear @alybatt.bsky.social discuss her new book, Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature:
Reposted by ZJBardou
I think the best and easiest way to fight people without principles is to have principles. Scumbags and liars wither in the face of moral clarity, the only way they have a chance is if their opponents are insincere weasels themselves
December 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I think the best and easiest way to fight people without principles is to have principles. Scumbags and liars wither in the face of moral clarity, the only way they have a chance is if their opponents are insincere weasels themselves
Reposted by ZJBardou
Nothing is yours. It is to use. It is to share. If you will not share it, you cannot use it.
December 9, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Nothing is yours. It is to use. It is to share. If you will not share it, you cannot use it.
Reposted by ZJBardou
"When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts."
Michael Ende - The Neverending Story
Michael Ende - The Neverending Story
![[photo of page from The Neverending Story]: "Whatever they please. When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts. That's why I sided with the powerful and served them - because I wanted to share their power.'
'I want no part in it!' Atreyu cried out.
'Take it easy, you little fool,' the werewolf growled.
'When your turn comes to jump into the Nothing, you too will be a nameless servant of power, with no will of your own. Who knows what use they will make of you? Maybe you'll help them persuade people to buy things they don't need, or hate things they know nothing about, or hold beliefs that make them easy to handle, or doubt the truths that might save them. Yes, you little Fantastican, big things will be done in the human world with your help, wars started, empires founded..."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreih4s2uzfh5jnzmrjlsrd4tgpjus7k4flyezj4q3a3c76mwrwy424q@jpeg)
December 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
"When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts."
Michael Ende - The Neverending Story
Michael Ende - The Neverending Story
Reposted by ZJBardou
As somebody whose research regularly requires despair breaks, I am genuinely worried about the morale problem which improved understanding of education systems creates.
December 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
As somebody whose research regularly requires despair breaks, I am genuinely worried about the morale problem which improved understanding of education systems creates.
Reposted by ZJBardou
The radicalization of Silicon Valley is the subject of my forthcoming book, "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War on Democracy."
It exposes a decades-long campaign to use tech power to overthrow democracy and destroy nations. Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
It exposes a decades-long campaign to use tech power to overthrow democracy and destroy nations. Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
The Nerd Reich
A fearless and urgent chronicle of the tech-authoritarian movement from its early days in San Francisco politics to its current moment on the inter...
www.simonandschuster.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The radicalization of Silicon Valley is the subject of my forthcoming book, "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War on Democracy."
It exposes a decades-long campaign to use tech power to overthrow democracy and destroy nations. Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
It exposes a decades-long campaign to use tech power to overthrow democracy and destroy nations. Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
Reposted by ZJBardou
Something I’ve encountered a lot lately is misperception of Luddites as technophobic reactionaries motivated by ignorance & resentment, rather than what they were, part of a well-informed labor movement seeking to seize control of means of production.
THE MAKING OF A PARIAH: The Case of the Luddites on JSTOR
David Linton, THE MAKING OF A PARIAH: The Case of the Luddites, ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Vol. 48, No. 4 (Winter 1991-92), pp. 404-413
www.jstor.org
December 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Something I’ve encountered a lot lately is misperception of Luddites as technophobic reactionaries motivated by ignorance & resentment, rather than what they were, part of a well-informed labor movement seeking to seize control of means of production.
Reposted by ZJBardou
The university-surveillance component of this piece is !!! I had missed the Qualtrics shift and acquisition and wow.
We really need an ed-tech key players power-map, does anyone know if this exists?
We really need an ed-tech key players power-map, does anyone know if this exists?
December 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The university-surveillance component of this piece is !!! I had missed the Qualtrics shift and acquisition and wow.
We really need an ed-tech key players power-map, does anyone know if this exists?
We really need an ed-tech key players power-map, does anyone know if this exists?
Reposted by ZJBardou
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) announced that it will no longer publish content on Elon Musk’s platform, X. The organization said it can “no longer ethically participate in a social network that its owner has transformed into a machine of disinformation and propaganda.”
European Federation of Journalists to stop posting content on X
The EFJ represents over 295,000 journalists in 44 countries.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) announced that it will no longer publish content on Elon Musk’s platform, X. The organization said it can “no longer ethically participate in a social network that its owner has transformed into a machine of disinformation and propaganda.”
Reposted by ZJBardou
“When you allow a machine to summarize your reading, to generate the ideas for your essay, and then to write that essay, you’re not learning how to read, think, or write.“
November 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“When you allow a machine to summarize your reading, to generate the ideas for your essay, and then to write that essay, you’re not learning how to read, think, or write.“
Reposted by ZJBardou
When I ask them: "What are you reading? What are you watching? What are you listening to?" Often, the answer is: nothing. Which has a direct effect on their over-use of prompts and AI, because they can't think of ideas, because they are literally not engaging with a single figurative thing.
November 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
When I ask them: "What are you reading? What are you watching? What are you listening to?" Often, the answer is: nothing. Which has a direct effect on their over-use of prompts and AI, because they can't think of ideas, because they are literally not engaging with a single figurative thing.
Reposted by ZJBardou
Thanksgiving served as a potent reminder for me that daily life feels weird and disconcerting because of how badly our information environment has fragmented society.
A few thoughts below, and a request for ideas at the bottom.
A few thoughts below, and a request for ideas at the bottom.
November 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Thanksgiving served as a potent reminder for me that daily life feels weird and disconcerting because of how badly our information environment has fragmented society.
A few thoughts below, and a request for ideas at the bottom.
A few thoughts below, and a request for ideas at the bottom.
Reposted by ZJBardou
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
To bear out this rosy projection, HSBC assumes that OpenAI will become "as ubiquitous [...] as Microsoft 365" (345mm users worldwide) while bringing in 10x the number of users (3bn).
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
Reposted by ZJBardou
over and over and over
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
To bear out this rosy projection, HSBC assumes that OpenAI will become "as ubiquitous [...] as Microsoft 365" (345mm users worldwide) while bringing in 10x the number of users (3bn).
November 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
over and over and over
Reposted by ZJBardou
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election that are obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment
steady.page
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Myth of a Rightward Realignment
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Let’s discard some stubborn misconceptions about Trump’s support and what happened in the 2024 election. They are only obscuring our understanding of a profound de-alignment.
As the piece is partially behind a paywall, I’ll share some key thoughts:
🧵
Reposted by ZJBardou
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Reposted by ZJBardou
One of my favorite social media redundancies is when people respond to a list of facts with, “I disagree!”
Ma’am and sirs — Mirs, if you will — that isn’t how anything works. You cannot “disagree” with the color of the sky or a timestamped event.
Ma’am and sirs — Mirs, if you will — that isn’t how anything works. You cannot “disagree” with the color of the sky or a timestamped event.
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
One of my favorite social media redundancies is when people respond to a list of facts with, “I disagree!”
Ma’am and sirs — Mirs, if you will — that isn’t how anything works. You cannot “disagree” with the color of the sky or a timestamped event.
Ma’am and sirs — Mirs, if you will — that isn’t how anything works. You cannot “disagree” with the color of the sky or a timestamped event.
Reposted by ZJBardou
This is someone who gets it.
A case that AI in the classroom needs to be addressed as a social issue rather than as an arms race.
joshuapnudell.com/2025/11/22/a...
joshuapnudell.com/2025/11/22/a...
AI in the Classroom is a Social Problem
A case that AI in the classroom needs to be addressed as a social issue rather than as an arms race.
joshuapnudell.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:10 AM
This is someone who gets it.
Reposted by ZJBardou
Every Republican president of my lifetime has destroyed the global economy and it doesn’t matter at all electorally
the enduring wishcasting power of "republicans are good at the economy" is truly something to behold
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Every Republican president of my lifetime has destroyed the global economy and it doesn’t matter at all electorally
Reposted by ZJBardou
ESQUIRE: “ICE is hiring literally anybody, and it’s terrifying… people who flunk the exam, criminal records… yet they’re allowed to tear children from their beds at night.”
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
November 20, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ESQUIRE: “ICE is hiring literally anybody, and it’s terrifying… people who flunk the exam, criminal records… yet they’re allowed to tear children from their beds at night.”
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
Reposted by ZJBardou
When I found this is my mailbox, I was occupied with other things & just kinda threw it on my pile. But now I’m going through that pile & I dunno, something has changed in the ensuing weeks which has made it feel a little more urgent.
November 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
When I found this is my mailbox, I was occupied with other things & just kinda threw it on my pile. But now I’m going through that pile & I dunno, something has changed in the ensuing weeks which has made it feel a little more urgent.
Reposted by ZJBardou
Few things bug me more than higher ed leaders saying that we lost our mission and lost the trust of the public, when we have actually been the target of a decades-long smear campaign by the right wing that worked. The moment we’re losing our mission is right now, in capitulation.
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Few things bug me more than higher ed leaders saying that we lost our mission and lost the trust of the public, when we have actually been the target of a decades-long smear campaign by the right wing that worked. The moment we’re losing our mission is right now, in capitulation.
Reposted by ZJBardou
How concentrated economic and political power in America protects elites and fosters violence of all kinds.
Crime and No Punishment by Marie Gottschalk is out now (13 Jan UK pub).
Learn more and order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#PoliticalScience #PoliSci
Crime and No Punishment by Marie Gottschalk is out now (13 Jan UK pub).
Learn more and order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#PoliticalScience #PoliSci
November 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
How concentrated economic and political power in America protects elites and fosters violence of all kinds.
Crime and No Punishment by Marie Gottschalk is out now (13 Jan UK pub).
Learn more and order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#PoliticalScience #PoliSci
Crime and No Punishment by Marie Gottschalk is out now (13 Jan UK pub).
Learn more and order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#PoliticalScience #PoliSci
Reposted by ZJBardou
Moderation as a strategy, "It's tapped out. There are no gains left to be had. ....I see anti-corruption as this very open lane for realignment," says @adambonica.bsky.social. newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Transcript: Anti-Corruption Politics Are The Way to Crush Trumpism
Stanford political scientist Adam Bonica says trying to be more moderate is a dead end for Democrats and the solution is for the party to be seen as fighting against corruption, oligarchy and other il...
newrepublic.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Moderation as a strategy, "It's tapped out. There are no gains left to be had. ....I see anti-corruption as this very open lane for realignment," says @adambonica.bsky.social. newrepublic.com/article/2030...