Tom ‘Beardo’ Hilliard
@tomh4.bsky.social
Trying to stay focused on higher ed, but someone always seems to be wrong on the internet.
There’s a whole literature about this link between isolation and vulnerability to conspiracy theories and violent radicalization. It’s not especially hopeful, on the whole, because of macro social trends toward declining connectivity. But it does point the way for countervailing activism.
February 8, 2026 at 5:37 PM
There’s a whole literature about this link between isolation and vulnerability to conspiracy theories and violent radicalization. It’s not especially hopeful, on the whole, because of macro social trends toward declining connectivity. But it does point the way for countervailing activism.
Banality of Evil meets Bowling Alone.
February 8, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Banality of Evil meets Bowling Alone.
To be clear, I have no evidence on the impact of the AIPAC ad campaign one way or the other. Just saying we should pull back on our human tendency to form narratives based on what we personally find most satisfying.
February 7, 2026 at 3:30 PM
To be clear, I have no evidence on the impact of the AIPAC ad campaign one way or the other. Just saying we should pull back on our human tendency to form narratives based on what we personally find most satisfying.
He's actually waiting for a manic pixie dream girl of his own to pepper spray and harass.
February 6, 2026 at 6:36 PM
He's actually waiting for a manic pixie dream girl of his own to pepper spray and harass.
Wait a minute, I thought the Essex County Democrats were the kingmakers! Gill‘s endorsements were supposed to sweep away all obstacles. Post-line, they don’t seem to carry much weight.
February 6, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Wait a minute, I thought the Essex County Democrats were the kingmakers! Gill‘s endorsements were supposed to sweep away all obstacles. Post-line, they don’t seem to carry much weight.
It would be a delightful irony given Mejia’s pro-Palestinian sympathies, but the ad campaign got so much press coverage that it may actually have boosted Malinowski.
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 AM
It would be a delightful irony given Mejia’s pro-Palestinian sympathies, but the ad campaign got so much press coverage that it may actually have boosted Malinowski.
You think the goal of recording the arrests is gathering evidence for criminal RICO prosecutions? That’s a take, I guess. But not one I’ve heard of from MN activists.
Divinity Original Sin is a popular video game. Nvm! divinity.fandom.com/wiki/Sourcer...
Divinity Original Sin is a popular video game. Nvm! divinity.fandom.com/wiki/Sourcer...
Sourcerer
Sourcerers are individuals with the innate ability to wield Source energy. Predominantly they have been considered a danger by society, however there have been exceptions throughout the ages, includin...
divinity.fandom.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:26 AM
You think the goal of recording the arrests is gathering evidence for criminal RICO prosecutions? That’s a take, I guess. But not one I’ve heard of from MN activists.
Divinity Original Sin is a popular video game. Nvm! divinity.fandom.com/wiki/Sourcer...
Divinity Original Sin is a popular video game. Nvm! divinity.fandom.com/wiki/Sourcer...
It’s an organizational judgement question. Stancil argues that certain activists set boundaries that are so strict they endanger the press coverage the MN resistance needs. It’s hard to know as an outsider, but seems plausible.
Also, Divinity Original Sin callout?
Also, Divinity Original Sin callout?
February 6, 2026 at 12:08 AM
It’s an organizational judgement question. Stancil argues that certain activists set boundaries that are so strict they endanger the press coverage the MN resistance needs. It’s hard to know as an outsider, but seems plausible.
Also, Divinity Original Sin callout?
Also, Divinity Original Sin callout?
That may be what you think, but you really can’t speak for other folks on Bluesky. As an immigration enforcement activist in South Jersey, the question of how to balance opsec with the need for national media coverage is important to me.
February 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
That may be what you think, but you really can’t speak for other folks on Bluesky. As an immigration enforcement activist in South Jersey, the question of how to balance opsec with the need for national media coverage is important to me.
We're all here replying to Ryan Grim's post. Evidently lots of people care, so blaming this on Stancil's ego is disingenuous. If Minneapolis activists are becoming paranoid about journalists, that's alarming and important to know. It could happen in my community too.
February 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM
We're all here replying to Ryan Grim's post. Evidently lots of people care, so blaming this on Stancil's ego is disingenuous. If Minneapolis activists are becoming paranoid about journalists, that's alarming and important to know. It could happen in my community too.
That’s not why. Anyone can get on social media to contradict Stancil’s account. God bless our medium, it’s as local as anyone wants it to be. The fact that no one has suggests that there’s no argument over what happened, only whether it was justified.
February 5, 2026 at 6:07 PM
That’s not why. Anyone can get on social media to contradict Stancil’s account. God bless our medium, it’s as local as anyone wants it to be. The fact that no one has suggests that there’s no argument over what happened, only whether it was justified.
I don’t think anyone has disputed Stancil’s account of the expulsion, which genuinely seems pretty absurd. On-the-ground press coverage of the Minnesota occupation has thrown the Trump administration‘s messaging into complete disarray. Freaking out about reporters’ ride-alongs is self-destructive.
February 5, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I don’t think anyone has disputed Stancil’s account of the expulsion, which genuinely seems pretty absurd. On-the-ground press coverage of the Minnesota occupation has thrown the Trump administration‘s messaging into complete disarray. Freaking out about reporters’ ride-alongs is self-destructive.
I am intrigued by “you should only suffer a terrible death,” which sounds directly translated from Yiddish.
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM
I am intrigued by “you should only suffer a terrible death,” which sounds directly translated from Yiddish.
Bannon always has an agenda. bsky.app/profile/jame...
i think people should consider the extent to which bannon, a known bullshit artist, knows that you will see this and panic. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Bannon always has an agenda. bsky.app/profile/jame...
Not sure a lead within the margin of error can be described as “reliably winning a general election matchup. “
February 5, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Not sure a lead within the margin of error can be described as “reliably winning a general election matchup. “
I'm gonna say no. It is definitely not that time.
February 4, 2026 at 8:41 PM
I'm gonna say no. It is definitely not that time.
Yes, we should fight back. But one reason not to flip out over the swaggering Masters of the Universe talk from the likes of Bannon & Miller is that we're not going to dismantle or defund ICE by Nov 6. We should prepare to protest and pressure, but otherwise stay focused on our agenda.
February 4, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Yes, we should fight back. But one reason not to flip out over the swaggering Masters of the Universe talk from the likes of Bannon & Miller is that we're not going to dismantle or defund ICE by Nov 6. We should prepare to protest and pressure, but otherwise stay focused on our agenda.
I don’t actually think you guys disagree. Should we fight like hell against voter disenfranchisement? yes! Should we let Steve Bannon panic us into thinking DHS is all powerful? Hell no.
February 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I don’t actually think you guys disagree. Should we fight like hell against voter disenfranchisement? yes! Should we let Steve Bannon panic us into thinking DHS is all powerful? Hell no.
Homelessness in high-cost regions is primarily driven by cost. That's why the housing first approach starts with getting people into housing, rather than (as Trump admin proposes) shelter + pathologizing services. Environmental issue is mainly about CA's CEQA, which was abused by homeowners.
February 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Homelessness in high-cost regions is primarily driven by cost. That's why the housing first approach starts with getting people into housing, rather than (as Trump admin proposes) shelter + pathologizing services. Environmental issue is mainly about CA's CEQA, which was abused by homeowners.
Interesting! I'll read the article. I've visited Asheville a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Hmm, that probably makes me part of the problem.
February 3, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Interesting! I'll read the article. I've visited Asheville a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Hmm, that probably makes me part of the problem.
Not sure what you mean by "this." I don't think YIMBY requires a pitiless free market. It just means confronting local housing cartels that fight for the status quo by blocking new construction using zoning laws, regulatory filibuster, and rhetoric about community values.
February 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Not sure what you mean by "this." I don't think YIMBY requires a pitiless free market. It just means confronting local housing cartels that fight for the status quo by blocking new construction using zoning laws, regulatory filibuster, and rhetoric about community values.
Regs are fine! Public housing is fine! But there's no substitute for new construction. The math of a growing population and a static housing stock leads inevitably to rising home prices. Maybe it's not so visible in Asheville, but it is to residents of high-cost housing markets like SF or NYC.
February 3, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Regs are fine! Public housing is fine! But there's no substitute for new construction. The math of a growing population and a static housing stock leads inevitably to rising home prices. Maybe it's not so visible in Asheville, but it is to residents of high-cost housing markets like SF or NYC.
What you're really pointing out is that so little housing is being built in the US that average price far exceeds wage affordability, which is why the US needs to galvanize housing construction. Hence, YIMBY.
February 3, 2026 at 3:39 PM
What you're really pointing out is that so little housing is being built in the US that average price far exceeds wage affordability, which is why the US needs to galvanize housing construction. Hence, YIMBY.