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Larry J. Simon

@larryjsimon.bsky.social

820 followers 870 following 1.3K posts

Historian, teacher, editor; Antifascist, book lover, 3-chord strummer; Fan of Americana, Blues, Country, Dylan, Earle, FCBarcelona; UCLA Ph.D.; Southwesterner in Midwestern Exile. Not here for day job or to promote career. Opinions mine; not my employer’s.

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · Mar 28

I’ve acquired these six volumes (of 7 published to date), formerly owned by Harry Belafonte, of The Papers of Martin Luther King Jr. As racist resegregationists have captured the White House we need now more than ever the astonishing courage, public moral vision, and works of MLK Jr.
#booksky

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Reposted by Larry J. Simon

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 8h

Bray is a historian at Rutgers who received death threats after landing on Turning Points USA's Professor Watchlist. As a result, he announced he was moving to Europe. And then this happened.

This kind of harassment and abuse of scholars is Charlie Kirk's legacy and it's only getting worse.

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 8h

“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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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

This little twerp, who’s been there a few months, axed two of the lions of WaPo??

Fisher is an investigative champion and had been at The Post for 39 years. Hoffman had been there for 42, and he won a Pulitzer LAST YEAR.

Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · 1d

Last week, new WaPo opinion editor Adam O'Neal quietly carried out another purge of staffers, cutting editors and major names like Marc Fisher and David Hoffman, among others.

Meanwhile, he welcomed three conservatives to the section.

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...

Post Traumatic Disorder

Adam O’Neal says he’s bringing “intellectual diversity” to The Washington Post’s opinion pages—but the moves he’s making behind the scenes tell a different story.

www.status.news

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 1d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s video of the incident

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 1d

And sing alongs to subversive folk tunes we learned in elementary school. youtu.be/Iu-1gDXjcVg?...

Steve Earle & the Hardly Strictly Dukes “This Land is Your Land” (Golden Gate Park, 4 Oct. 2025)

YouTube video by LJSimon

youtu.be

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 1d

I was so focused on those fruits and vegetables that I never saw her coming. I’m a doddering old man until I take out my cell phone … and then the world snaps to alert..

Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 1d

Steve Earle sounds bluegrass to me. Sam Bush’s set was bluegrass. I first met Dr. Ralph Stanley at this festival. I’ve heard Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson play here. And it has hardly, strictly been just a bluegrass festival for decades.

Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 1d

Yup, and sang along to subversive songs. youtu.be/Iu-1gDXjcVg?...

Steve Earle & the Hardly Strictly Dukes “This Land is Your Land” (Golden Gate Park, 4 Oct. 2025)

YouTube video by LJSimon

youtu.be

Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

LOL. Head for higher ground great advice.
I encountered one Lyft Tesla driver from Venezuela w/ Trump sympathies & Green Card difficulties.
But I spoke more Spanish in my five days there than I have in a year, and was shown more courtesies and kindnesses than I can count.
Make America Mexico Again.

Reposted by Larry J. Simon

Ian Boudreau @ianboudreau.com · 2d

I've been trying to put my finger on why ICE/DHS lies feel so much more outrageous than normal cop lies, and I think it's because they don't lie like cops, they lie like aggressively stupid criminals

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 2d

this is a very very big story because of the apparently totally fake story ICE/DHS put out about what happened.

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 2d

I'm so sick of the casualness of their constant lying.

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

Wavy Gravy.
“Laughter is the valve on the pressure cooker of life. Either you laugh and suffer, or you got your beans or brains on the ceiling.”
“What a rush it was to plunge into the bin of official decision & cast a ballot in favor of FUN.”
“I could’ve…put my clown in a closet…swallowed my soul.”

Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

After dark in the Presidio a person stopped & asked if I needed a ride; I didn’t. In Golden Gate Park person on scooter apologized for coming too close. This is St. Ignatius Church; I stumbled upon St. Dominic’s Church at night, and it was open. North Beach & downtown not less safe, just crowded.

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

Four random photographs from the weekend illustrating the dangers of Golden Gate Park and the chaos and criminal terror which rules the Streets of San Francisco.

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George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 3d

Chicago priest Father Michael Pfleger: "The state of emergency is in AMERICA, not Chicago. It's birthed from this president and his admin's reign of terror."

( ht: @mikenellis.bsky.social )

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

Almost everything out of this piglet’s mouth is hogwash, and 100% of this is a brazen bald-faced lie.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Mike Johnson: "Let me look right into the camera and tell you very clearly: Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it."

Reposted by Larry J. Simon

kottke.org @kottke.org · 7d

From Haymarket Books, an Abolish the Border, Abolish the Police Reading List. “In solidarity with all those standing up for our communities against the brutality of immigrant detention and police repression, we offer an extensive reading list…” [haymarketbooks.org]

Abolish the Border, Abolish the Police Reading List

In solidarity with all those standing up for our communities against the brutality of immigrant detention and police repression, we offer an extensive reading list about border and police abolition. Drawing from over twenty years of activism on local and national levels,

www.haymarketbooks.org

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 2d

Now a nation where policy made by imbeciles:
“citing President Donald Trump’s advice that the shot should be broken up into ‘three totally separate shots’ because ‘when you mix them, there could be a problem.’ Trump, at an event about autism last month, said the advice was based on ‘what I feel.’”

Politico @politico.com · 2d

CDC has endorsed RFK Jr.'s vaccine panel recommendations.

The Trump administration’s move formalizes advice to soften or eliminate previous Covid and MMRV shot guidance.

CDC endorses RFK Jr. vaccine panel recommendations

The Trump administration’s move formalizes advice to soften or eliminate previous policies.

www.politico.com

Reposted by Larry J. Simon

Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 3d

WaPo letting folks like @crampell.bsky.social & @gregsargent.bsky.social & @pbump.com walk makes the Red Sox trading Mookie Betts for a bag of chips look reasonable.

Great news for Catherine, & us, her readers. What a shanda for the once great newspaper that is now the Free Press on the Potomac.

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 3d

“Catherine Rampell is joining The Bulwark, where she will write a weekly economics and policy-focused newsletter while contributing to the company’s podcasts and YouTube channels.

‘Catherine is one of the best…We’re beyond thrilled she’s decided to join us.’”

www.semafor.com/article/10/0...

Washington Post economics columnist moves to The Bulwark

Catherine Rampell will write a weekly economics and policy-focused newsletter for the anti-Trump media brand.

www.semafor.com

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Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 3d

Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ) publicly targeted this judge on Twitter a couple weeks ago.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 3d

SOUTH CAROLINA… “Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony...” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 3d

No indication yet from major media that the FBI has any interest whatsoever in investigating this apparent attempted assassination of a well-known judge openly targeted on social media by the far-right activist—Harmeet Dhillon—currently calling herself Assistant Attorney General of the United States

Beachfront home of South Carolina judge, ex-senator burned to ground, injuring 3

Ex-senator Arnold Goodstein, along with two additional people, were rescued by several neighbors and paramedics from a marshy, remote area behind the home after jumping from the fist floor.

nypost.com

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Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 3d

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 3d

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 7d

“Many professors have simply stopped assigning papers, especially when it’s becoming increasingly difficult to not only distinguish between AI-generated and student-generated work, but also to prove it.”
Yikes, Princeton; WTAF?

Some useful links in this article to various sets of AI regulations.

Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social · 7d

"humanities professors discussed how they have adapted their classrooms to fit the new world of ChatGPT. Some professors are outright banning AI, turning assessments that used to be papers into in-class exams. Others are trying to work alongside AI" bit.ly/4gSAU23

The future of humanities teaching in the AI age, according to Princeton professors

Some professors are outright banning AI, turning assessments that used to be papers into in-class exams. Others are trying to work alongside AI, asking students to be transparent when they have used A...

bit.ly

Reposted by Larry J. Simon

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7d

STEPHANOPOULOS: The Democratic proposal is designed to prevent millions of Americans from losing their health insurance, losing Medicaid coverage, or paying higher healthcare premiums. Why are you against that?

MIKE JOHNSON: That's an absurd statement

STEPHANOPOULOS: It's a factual statement

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Larry J. Simon @larryjsimon.bsky.social · 7d

Great picture. My dad, 517th PIR, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, fought in Italy May to August 1944, jumped into so. France operation Dragoon, fought in Belgium north of Bastogne during Bulge, later in Germany; 150 days of combat; died in 1958 100% SCD. Antifa before Antifa was cool I tell my students