Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Carol Off

@caroloff.bsky.social

7.4K followers 1.5K following 250 posts

Author of At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage --"an instant #1 bestseller." It's the story of how political words have been weaponized and who weaponized them. caroloff.ca Substack.com/@caroloff

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Nov 17

The tour for this book has been a wild ride. I met so many people who are trying to understand what's happening to civil society. I offer some ideas -- and encouragement.
Thanks to all those who made this a bestseller.

21 41 140

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · 24d

I will have a look. Thanks for the tip.

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · 25d

I’m told that it can capture it. Or it soon will. maybe it will be sufficiently “human” to satisfy publishers and readers. Market forces.

1 1

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · 25d

And I will always enjoy the task of writing. But I despair that one day the publisher will not bother waiting for me to prime the pump or stoke the wood stove.

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · 25d

Yes books will survive. Written by AI. Technology will take over the task. I despair.

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · 25d

As I struggle each day to write another book I can't help but think that this activity will one day be as obsolete as hand-pumping water from a well or stoking the kitchen stove with wood in order to cook dinner.

7 1 31

Reposted by Carol Off

Bluesky Strategy Group @blueskystrategy.bsky.social · Aug 6

Our #BlueskyBookClub pick today is from Senior Consultant @alysonfair.bsky.social: At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage, by Carol Off

It's a powerful reminder that civil discourse isn’t just nice, it’s necessary.

#BlueskyReads #BestPoliticalReads #ConversationMatters #canpoli

4 20

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jul 7

Ha! I arrived at our cottage to find this issue from last year still on the coffee table. Before the US election. Before Trump 2.
SCOTUS already in place to enable him.
What a difference a year doesn't make.

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jul 3

Voting in favour of a bill that you know will hurt your people but presuming they won’t find out until you are re-elected is the height of cynicism.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/u...

Tax Cuts Now, Benefit Cuts Later: The Timeline in the Republican Megabill

www.nytimes.com

7 15

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 27

Republicans want to slash food and medical aid for impoverished Americans in order to subsidize Jeff Bezos extravagance. These things are directly connected.
How do these people sleep at night?

2 3 24

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thank you Barbara!

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 19

I need you!

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 8

I hear you. It’s a difficult time for those folks.

1 2

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 8

It's dubbed the "None is to many" law. Canada sends asylum seekers back to the United States under a treaty that's supposed to protect their rights. We know it's not happening. Canada has legal obligations here.

My latest substack. Free to read. Free to subscribe.
open.substack.com/pub/caroloff...

Mr. Carney, Tear down that wall.

Canada's urgent obligation to asylum seekers in the United States

open.substack.com

1 18 45

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 8

Violent attacks on journalists who are trying to cover the protests around Los Angeles, according to @adamrose, the Press Rights Chair at Los Angeles Press Club.

Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · Jun 8

Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.

This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇

22 54

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 8

Trump wants to create violence in California as a distraction while his agents round up families, farm workers and students for detention and deportation.

1 3 19

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 7

Canada is sending refugees back to the US -- a regime that violates their rights and deports women and children.
We have obligations to those people. It's time we honoured them.
Mr. Carney, tear down that wall.
My latest substack.

open.substack.com/pub/caroloff...

Mr. Carney, Tear down that wall.

Canada's urgent obligation to asylum seekers in the United States

open.substack.com

5 55 120

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · Jun 7

Canada's Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States is endangering the lives of countless people.
It's immoral and probably unconstitutional.
Mr. Carney, tear down that wall.
My latest substack. Free to read. Free to subscribe.

5 22 67

Reposted by Carol Off

Mary Grace🕷️🕸️🎃👻 @emgeekay.bsky.social · May 28

Beauty pageants, the flag, the search for symbols.

“We are defined by what we do, not by what we wear or what authority figure we can trot onto stage. We have a lot of reconciliation still to do at home but, mixed as it is, I believe our record can speak for itself. It's better than most.”

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 26

Why is it so hard for Canada to show the world what we are?
Canada: a nation in search of an identity and a symbol.
My latest substack. Free to read; free to subscribe.
open.substack.com/pub/caroloff...

Canada - a nation in search of a symbol

Because nothing says "Canada" better than the king on his throne

open.substack.com

1 1 11

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 26

Good question! I would say our parks.

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 26

Canada - a nation in search of a symbol

Because nothing says "Canada" better than the king on his throne

open.substack.com

2 4 29

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 8

Canada is standing up to the global neighbourhood bully -Donald Trump. And the world is watching.
Their takeaway? Never underestimate nice people.
My latest free Substack.

open.substack.com/pub/caroloff...

How the outside world sees Carney and Canada

Never underestimate nice people.

open.substack.com

1 6 25

Reposted by Carol Off

Linda Morra @gettinglitwithlind.bsky.social · May 8

For #gettinglitwithlinda, @caroloff.bsky.social addresses her new book, At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage & examines how #freedom, #democracy #truth are being hijacked & weaponized to diminish liberal democracy. @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
embed.acast.com/$/6086d520cf...?

A woman with dark, shoulder length hair and piercing blue eyes gazes directly at the viewer.

A book with a white background and the title, At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage. At the bottom of the book are letter blocks that spell both "fake" and "fact".

2 7

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 5

In all seriousness, this is the very scenario I was imagining. Hasn't he asked for a military parade on his honour?

1 3

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 5

This may be just the dress rehearsal. It will be of much greater concern if Trump appears in uniform as a general.

Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope

The image, shared by White House social media accounts, comes as Catholics prepare to pick the next pontiff.

www.bbc.com

4 1 24

Carol Off @caroloff.bsky.social · May 5

In Canada, a government can actually override someone's charter rights and do it legally. In fact, Pierre Poilievre vowed he would do that - using the notwithstanding clause.

Trump Says ‘I Don’t Know’ When Asked About Due Process and Upholding Constitution www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...

Trump Says ‘I Don’t Know’ When Asked About Due Process and Upholding Constitution

President Trump repeatedly said he didn’t know when asked in a TV interview whether every person on American soil was entitled to due process, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.

www.nytimes.com

1 7 21