Jillian Powers
@drpowers.bsky.social
Sociologist, ethnographer, reppin’ the undercommons; perpetually wondering how I got here. Ethical tech, data & AI, memes, Disney-princess animal love, house music. 🦝🏳️🌈 🇵🇷
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
December 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
*tries to answer the phone casually like this is something i do all the time*
<red tailed hawk screech>
<red tailed hawk screech>
December 12, 2025 at 1:22 AM
*tries to answer the phone casually like this is something i do all the time*
<red tailed hawk screech>
<red tailed hawk screech>
Reposted by Jillian Powers
The University of Nebraska is closing their statistics department. Especially if you're all in on AI this is so short-sighted. It's like launching the first spacecraft into outer space and being like "welp time to close astrophysics and rocketry and only teach classes on buckling up your seat belts"
December 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The University of Nebraska is closing their statistics department. Especially if you're all in on AI this is so short-sighted. It's like launching the first spacecraft into outer space and being like "welp time to close astrophysics and rocketry and only teach classes on buckling up your seat belts"
Reposted by Jillian Powers
my read is they were trying to whip up the usual frenzy, but then the effort got blown up by Candace Owens saying The Jews did it
It’s kind of incredible how little has been published about this guy and how little conservatives seem to care. Did people just forget these people were screeching for civil war when they thought he was a liberal?
Suspected Charlie Kirk assassin makes first in-person court appearance
The Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys pushed to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.
www.ctvnews.ca
December 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
my read is they were trying to whip up the usual frenzy, but then the effort got blown up by Candace Owens saying The Jews did it
Reposted by Jillian Powers
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Learning management systems also of course lock in institutitions to multi-year budget-raiding subscription contracts, enforce templates that restrict pedagogic autonomy, and claim extra value from turning usage data into feature upgrades, *in addition* to being major time and labour drains
This recent study found learning management systems sold to schools since the 2010s as time-savers (e.g. Google Classroom, Canvas) tend to be burdensome and contribute to burnout.
December 12, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Learning management systems also of course lock in institutitions to multi-year budget-raiding subscription contracts, enforce templates that restrict pedagogic autonomy, and claim extra value from turning usage data into feature upgrades, *in addition* to being major time and labour drains
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Time is owned by Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, which is currently trying to sell its AI tool to ICE in order to triple their recruitment. just a thing I think about sometimes while I’m at work, implementing his product for nonprofits.
Time Magazine puts the "architects of AI" on its Person of the Year cover time.com/7339685/pers...
December 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Time is owned by Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, which is currently trying to sell its AI tool to ICE in order to triple their recruitment. just a thing I think about sometimes while I’m at work, implementing his product for nonprofits.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
The fact that AI hype-driven imperatives have apparently overwhelmed Disney Legal's protective instincts is kinda concerning.
December 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The fact that AI hype-driven imperatives have apparently overwhelmed Disney Legal's protective instincts is kinda concerning.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Some people have asked what I mean when I talk about the need for anti-corruption reforms. Here are some ideas.
December 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Some people have asked what I mean when I talk about the need for anti-corruption reforms. Here are some ideas.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
These ridiculous mega-projects like "datacenters in space" (doomed by thermodynamics) make a LOT more sense when you realize they're massive Ponzi schemes designed to transfer wealth from pension funds to VC's through "fee stacking."
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
“.. Skeptics believe the technical risks are being underestimated and say space-based data centers won’t be competitive on cost, especially if power and other constraints ease on the ground.”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/tech/bezos-a...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/tech/bezos-a...
December 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
These ridiculous mega-projects like "datacenters in space" (doomed by thermodynamics) make a LOT more sense when you realize they're massive Ponzi schemes designed to transfer wealth from pension funds to VC's through "fee stacking."
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Voting for more hepatitis B, which is a leading cause of cancer worldwide is peak MAHA / MAGA self own right now.
December 8, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Voting for more hepatitis B, which is a leading cause of cancer worldwide is peak MAHA / MAGA self own right now.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Maybe instead of committing atrocities, we could just make the rich pay their fair share and have universal healthcare and affordable housing instead.
Idk, just spitballing here.
Idk, just spitballing here.
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Alex Karp vows to use his "whole influence" on immigration and defense policy.
gizmodo.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Maybe instead of committing atrocities, we could just make the rich pay their fair share and have universal healthcare and affordable housing instead.
Idk, just spitballing here.
Idk, just spitballing here.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Everyone involved in this child’s kidnapping is going to hell.
A 6-year-old boy is missing after ICE arrested him and his dad in NYC last week and shipped them off to separate facilities. www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/02/i... @thecity.nyc @gwynnefitz.bsky.social
ICE Arrested and Separated Chinese Father From 6-Year-Old Son, Advocates Say
The father and son were detained at an ICE check-in on Nov. 26, advocates say. The son’s location is currently unknown, while the father is being held at an upstate ICE facility.
www.thecity.nyc
December 3, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Everyone involved in this child’s kidnapping is going to hell.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Raccoon gets drunk at a Virginia liquor store and passes out in bathroom
Raccoon gets drunk at Ashland ABC store and passes out in bathroom
Talk about a trashed panda.
www.axios.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Raccoon gets drunk at a Virginia liquor store and passes out in bathroom
Reposted by Jillian Powers
If you are a chair of a department or supervise grad students, it might be important to collaborate with your colleagues on ways to strategize when a "problem essay" comes down the pike. It's one small way of protecting each other.
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
If you are a chair of a department or supervise grad students, it might be important to collaborate with your colleagues on ways to strategize when a "problem essay" comes down the pike. It's one small way of protecting each other.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
🚨Damn.🚨NY showed up!🚨
Posted 15 minutes ago. 1/2
Posted 15 minutes ago. 1/2
November 29, 2025 at 9:56 PM
🚨Damn.🚨NY showed up!🚨
Posted 15 minutes ago. 1/2
Posted 15 minutes ago. 1/2
Reposted by Jillian Powers
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Reposted by Jillian Powers
We are setting the scene for the world’s most unsympathetic version of the face-eating leopards, which is really saying something
The markets are staying afloat right now on the hope that AI will destroy American workers. What a bleak thing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
November 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM
We are setting the scene for the world’s most unsympathetic version of the face-eating leopards, which is really saying something
Reposted by Jillian Powers
When troops are deployed overseas in places they absolutely should not be because of a warmonger ass president, and they are killed by someone who acted on their own accord, we typically don’t have a problem blaming the U.S. commander in chief
"In the months leading up to the D.C. deployment, Beckstrom worked for a community health center that serves people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders." www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
National Guard member killed in D.C. shooting remembered for 'heart of gold'
The slain soldier’s former boyfriend recalled her empathy and generosity. “She doesn’t even have to know you and she’ll do anything for you,” he said.
www.nbcnews.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:42 PM
When troops are deployed overseas in places they absolutely should not be because of a warmonger ass president, and they are killed by someone who acted on their own accord, we typically don’t have a problem blaming the U.S. commander in chief
Reposted by Jillian Powers
WHOA. Trump says he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, who once said that he wanted to “shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos.” He had people killed as part of his narco-trafficking ring, which he at times operated directly out of his presidential office.
November 29, 2025 at 12:05 AM
WHOA. Trump says he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, who once said that he wanted to “shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos.” He had people killed as part of his narco-trafficking ring, which he at times operated directly out of his presidential office.
Reposted by Jillian Powers
As CEO of Mott’s Applesauce I really have to question your mental state if Applesauce isn’t on your plate, in your toilet, in the bedroom, really everywhere that Applesauce could help
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
As CEO of Mott’s Applesauce I really have to question your mental state if Applesauce isn’t on your plate, in your toilet, in the bedroom, really everywhere that Applesauce could help