GL Pennington
@purposefulprof.bsky.social
Associate Prof of Psychology / Consumer Psych / Marketing at Northwestern University. Views here are my own. Exploring the psychology of false belief & the marketing of misinfo. | Make business more human 🌱 Do research for good
Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected South Park to be at the forefront of our fight to save democracy.
July 26, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected South Park to be at the forefront of our fight to save democracy.
So what is the plan is for the $45 billion new detention centers once Trump & ICE deport half our nation's essential labor force? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
July 4, 2025 at 4:38 AM
So what is the plan is for the $45 billion new detention centers once Trump & ICE deport half our nation's essential labor force? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Any body language experts out there who can speak to Marco Rubio’s state of mind during this a Trump presser on Iran?
June 22, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Any body language experts out there who can speak to Marco Rubio’s state of mind during this a Trump presser on Iran?
Nailed it. It truly was
June 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Nailed it. It truly was
Reposted by GL Pennington
They told Minnesotans to stay home. After the murder of Speaker Hortman and her husband—and the failed attempts on Senator Hoffman and his wife—fear was the official message.
But the people came anyway. In defiance. In grief. In purpose. This was the #NoKings rally in MN. #BlueSky #MedSky #NewsSky
But the people came anyway. In defiance. In grief. In purpose. This was the #NoKings rally in MN. #BlueSky #MedSky #NewsSky
June 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Amazing. From the largest U.S. cities to small towns and suburbs, the enthusiastic turn-out today did wonders for my faith in Americans, and humanity
Today in Boston.
Over a million people turned out.
Even the drone couldn't get it all.
#NoKingsDay #BostonStrong #ICEProtest
Over a million people turned out.
Even the drone couldn't get it all.
#NoKingsDay #BostonStrong #ICEProtest
June 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Amazing. From the largest U.S. cities to small towns and suburbs, the enthusiastic turn-out today did wonders for my faith in Americans, and humanity
I have to be honest — I’m uncertain how to fact-check crowd size. But I want this to be true. 🤣 Apparently that’s sufficient in 2025 so let’s go with it for now
Ok, *this* is best comparative stat, members of media: The DC Pride parade one week ago had a bigger turnout.
June 15, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I have to be honest — I’m uncertain how to fact-check crowd size. But I want this to be true. 🤣 Apparently that’s sufficient in 2025 so let’s go with it for now
Reposted by GL Pennington
Northwestern updates from the academic freedom front, two pieces of good news:
(1) our president signed the AACU "call for constructive engagement," which, among other things, condemns "the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education"
(1) our president signed the AACU "call for constructive engagement," which, among other things, condemns "the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education"
April 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Northwestern updates from the academic freedom front, two pieces of good news:
(1) our president signed the AACU "call for constructive engagement," which, among other things, condemns "the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education"
(1) our president signed the AACU "call for constructive engagement," which, among other things, condemns "the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education"
Reposted by GL Pennington
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Thank you, @repstansbury.bsky.social . This is NOT normal.
March 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Thank you, @repstansbury.bsky.social . This is NOT normal.
Reposted by GL Pennington
Rep. Melanie Stansbury holds a sign reading "This Is Not Normal" before another member rips it out of her hand.
March 5, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Rep. Melanie Stansbury holds a sign reading "This Is Not Normal" before another member rips it out of her hand.
Reposted by GL Pennington
February 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Tears
Ending the night with this.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
*Get your hankies*
A D-Day veteran called a gracious and humbled Zelenskyy a hero.
March 1, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Tears
Absolute disaster - consciously financing and fueling outrage / disinfo spread
NEW: Meta decided to stop working with U.S. fact-checkers at the same time as it’s revamping a program to pay bonuses to creators with high engagement numbers, potentially pouring accelerant on the kind of false posts the company once policed.
As Facebook Abandons Fact-Checking, It’s Also Offering Bonuses for Viral Content
Meta decided to stop working with U.S. fact-checkers at the same time as it’s revamping a program to pay bonuses to creators with high engagement numbers, potentially pouring accelerant on the kind of false posts the company once policed.
www.propublica.org
February 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Absolute disaster - consciously financing and fueling outrage / disinfo spread
Dear Americans,
HELP.
Sincerely,
Science
HELP.
Sincerely,
Science
February 13, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Dear Americans,
HELP.
Sincerely,
Science
HELP.
Sincerely,
Science
Reposted by GL Pennington
how it started at USAID > how it's going
February 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
how it started at USAID > how it's going
Reposted by GL Pennington
"...a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
FDR 1938
FDR 1938
February 1, 2025 at 3:00 AM
"...a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
FDR 1938
FDR 1938
New accusations against Hegseth, I see. Where do you suppose Susan Collins is this morning on the concern-o-meter?
January 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
New accusations against Hegseth, I see. Where do you suppose Susan Collins is this morning on the concern-o-meter?
The sudden popularity of RedNote is fascinating - an unexpected, massive scale cultural mash-up. One big, unpredictable social / cultural psychology field experiment. Get your IRB proposals lined up….I suspect this is going to be a wild ride!
January 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The sudden popularity of RedNote is fascinating - an unexpected, massive scale cultural mash-up. One big, unpredictable social / cultural psychology field experiment. Get your IRB proposals lined up….I suspect this is going to be a wild ride!
I don’t spend as much time on Facebook these days, but it occurs to me there’s an upside to Zuckerberg giving up any attempt at fact checking…. we can post sarcastic memes again without ending up in FB jail. 🚨
January 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I don’t spend as much time on Facebook these days, but it occurs to me there’s an upside to Zuckerberg giving up any attempt at fact checking…. we can post sarcastic memes again without ending up in FB jail. 🚨
Reposted by GL Pennington
Is your Following feed overcrowded? Do you wish you could check in on one little world at a time? Not only does Bluesky have purpose-built feeds and lists for this, but you can convert any starter pack to a list using @wandrme.paxex.aero's terrific tool. Then you can pin it for easy access!
Convert BSky Starter Pack to List
nws-bot.us
November 20, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Is your Following feed overcrowded? Do you wish you could check in on one little world at a time? Not only does Bluesky have purpose-built feeds and lists for this, but you can convert any starter pack to a list using @wandrme.paxex.aero's terrific tool. Then you can pin it for easy access!
This word choice is sadly very fitting for 2024
'Manifesting' is the Cambridge Dictionary word of the year 2024! Endorsed by many celebrities, here I explain why willing your desires into existence simply by thinking about them is absolute nonsense & a harmful gateway to pseudoscience & conspiracy theories.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVY0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVY0...
Why psychologists warn against manifesting - Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year
YouTube video by Cambridge Dictionary
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2024 at 2:51 PM
This word choice is sadly very fitting for 2024
Dismayed to see @laurahelmuth.bsky.social being predictably & viciously attacked online. Greatly appreciated this commentary by John Horgan. "Science journalists can either challenge abuses of science or look the other way." Helmuth challenged them. To her credit. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...
Scientific American Loses Its Bold Leader — John Horgan (The Science Writer)
HOBOKEN, NOVEMBER 15, 2024. Well before Scientific American ’s editor vented her despair over the election, social in justice warriors were bashing the magazine for its political views. Critics in...
johnhorgan.org
November 20, 2024 at 3:34 AM
Dismayed to see @laurahelmuth.bsky.social being predictably & viciously attacked online. Greatly appreciated this commentary by John Horgan. "Science journalists can either challenge abuses of science or look the other way." Helmuth challenged them. To her credit. johnhorgan.org/cross-check/...