Anna Baker Smith

We have now entered the "His Opponents Are Afraid of Falling Out of Windows" stage of Donald Trump's emulation of Vladmir Putin.

Ayotte releases info on Trump administration’s ‘new detention model’ for ICE facilities across the US - The Boston Globe The Merrimack warehouse is part of a $38 billion plan that would be operational by Nov. 30 and would expand ICE’s detention capacity to 92,600 beds nationwide.

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/m...

I will try that next. What do I have to lose?

Oh seriously…that’s the measure? Then I’m writing a masterpiece, baby!

What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing? The demise of the English paper will end a long intellectual tradition, but it’s also an opportunity to reëxamine the purpose of higher education.

Turned in summer grades...time to read this essay on the end of the essay...Happy Saturday
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Oh, thank you! I hate that! It's like they offloaded their trauma onto the listener who gets stuck doing their freaking emotional labor. NO! FEEL YOUR OWN DAMN DESPAIR!

Excellent!

The Parrot in the Machine | James Gleick The artificial intelligence industry depends on plagiarism, mimicry, and exploited labor, not intelligence.

Not sure you'll have access to this, but even the opening is good...
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...

The AI Con by Emily M Bender and Alex Hanna review – debunking myths of the AI revolution Will new technology help to make the world a better place, or is AI just another tech bubble that will benefit the few?

Here's some distraction if you're grading session one of summer school...The AI Con...A review of the book by Bender and Hanna...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

DAVE: Open the podbay doors, ChatGPT.
CHATGPT: Certainly, Dave, the podbay doors are now open.
DAVE: The podbay doors didn't open.
CHATGPT: My apologies, Dave, you're right. I thought the podbay doors were open, but they weren't. Now they are.
DAVE: I'm still looking at a set of closed podbay doors.

😂

The Episcopal Church Refuses to Help Trump Make Apartheid Great Again We need more courageous faith leaders who refuse to assume supporting roles in Trump’s white supremacist morality play.

My latest… We need more courageous faith leaders who refuse to assume supporting roles in Trump’s white supremacist morality play.
open.substack.com/pub/robertpj...

Jon Ossoff holds Cobb town hall as CDC cuts factor into Georgia Senate race Mass layoffs at the Atlanta-based CDC have become a symbol in Georgia of Trump's second-term push to shrink the federal government and dismantle government agencies.

www.ajc.com/politics/jon...

We made step by step instructions (with pictures!) for how NC voters on thegriffinlist.com can update their voter file

bsky.app/profile/tria...

Visas revoked for five international students at UMass Amherst, chancellor says - The Boston Globe A UMass spokesperson said Saturday the university does not believe the visa revocations are connected to pro-Palestinian protests.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/05/m...

www.umass.edu/news/article...

💚 blessings on you today!

Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing

snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...

Hundreds of people at a lively anti tesla protest with signs and flags

crowd chanting:

we don't want your Nazi cars
take a one way trip to Mars

#teslatakedown #Boston

Dying for Gesualdo by Anna Baker Smith It’s the evening of Palm Sunday, early April and cold, the sky over downtown Amherst dark. Just inside an old stone church, our little choir of twelve is seated in a circle near…

Here's my essay about Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo, trying to sing his tricky music, and murder. Enjoy!
aftertheart.com/2025/03/27/d...

Artists project message against ‘tyranny’ on Old State House in wake of Michelle Wu’s testimony on Capitol Hill - The Boston Globe The group of artists, working under the name “Silence Dogood,” said Boston has been committed to liberty since the age of the American Revolution.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/05/m...