Megan Birk

We are so fucked

My usual first stop in DSM - The Early Bird saves me from archival stomach rumblings and a caffeine withdrawal headache every time

2026 Conference — Midwestern History Association

🚨CFP🚨 The Midwestern History Association invites proposals for the 12th Midwestern History Conference, Thursday, April 30–Friday, May 1, 2026, hosted by Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in conjunction with its annual Altman Symposium in the humanities. Submission Deadline: Monday, December 8, 2025.

BREAKING: A new experiment in Philly shows cash rental assistance slashed homelessness rates by 57–67%.

The rage you are feeling comes from the same place inside your heart as the love. This is why you refuse to accept a world where cruelty reigns and the fire consumes all. You have known hope and joy and kindness like you have known water. And justice is a river that demands you do not give up on it. - Nikita Gill

A few people have shared this here today, so I thought I’d post it.

The worst chief justice of all time Move over, Roger Taney and Melville Fuller.

"The nation has faced, many times, a conservative Court aligned with bigotry and big business. But the nation has not previously faced a conservative Court aligned with helping the president become a king." — @snipy.bsky.social

Ahh yes, the old “these poors can work to feed themselves” line. I’m just going to drop this here for my own edification. I know these people don’t read www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=87...

A meme from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In the top panel, one man labeled "literally every company" hands a plate labeled "AI" to a man labeled "me." In the bottom panel, the man labeled "me" nonchalantly tosses the plate down the hallway, discarding it with casual disdain while the first man watches.

Time to post it again.

A huge thank you to everyone who came and made #mha2025 a huge success. The team at #SHSI was amazing - we couldn’t ask for better partners. There is amazing scholarship about the Midwest happening (grad students you rocked) and next year can’t come soon enough! First, I need a nap!

I felt this in my bones

When the research and the news are too close for comfort

Who among us does not know every word of this banger?

Happening now: What’s Next in Midwestern History at OAH

Presenters discuss their dissertation research seated at a long table in a conference room

Presenters discuss their dissertation research seated at a long table in a conference room

We had a fantastic turnout today for the MHA ⚡️round at OAH. It was inspiring to hear from our future colleagues about their work

The MHA is excited to promote graduate student work tomorrow at OAH - please join us for the ⚡️round at 2:45

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Labor friends in Washington state tell me that ICE “violently” detained farmworker activist Lelo Juarez today. They’re looking for immediate support. More info at this link, and below.

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Step aside and let someone else lead - it’s the least you could do at this point

Sanders: 1 Percent Has Sapped $79T in Wealth From Bottom 90 Percent Since 1975 In 2023 alone, $3.9 trillion was sapped from the bottom 90 percent— enough to give every worker a $32,000 raise.

Sen. Bernie Sanders highlighted a new analysis showing that the wealthiest 1% has extracted $79 trillion from the bottom 90% of Americans since 1975. In 2023 alone, $3.9 trillion was redirected upward—enough to provide every U.S. worker with a $32,000 raise.

This is very nearly the text of the recently-surging-in-popularity 1944 OSS (proto-CIA) publication "Simple Sabotage Field Manual" which suggests, among other things: "WORK SLOWLY," "misroute materials," "snarl up administration in every possible way," & "misunderstand all sorts of regulations"💪

In addition to feeding people: babies, children, the elderly, WIC and SNAP generate between $4-$9 for every dollar spent by the programs. Just maybe a relevant issue for the week. Government spending doesn’t just help people, programs and grants are also economic engines at the local and state level

If people want to write their senators this site has info on how much economic impact NIH has in each state:

www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...

Jon Gjerde Prize — Midwestern History Association

Friendly reminder on Jan. 15 deadline for the MHA Gjerde Book Prize @illinoispress.bsky.social @univnebpress.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social @uminnpress.bsky.social @ucpress.bsky.social @uncpress.bsky.social

Feel free to call

In case you missed it, we recently re-shared our story of an 8-year-old who was killed on a Wisconsin dairy farm.

You can read the full "America's Dairyland" series here: www.propublica.org/series/ameri...

2024 Contingent Book List When you’re shopping for books this season, consider a contingent scholar.

Our sixth annual list of books by historians working off the tenure track.

Book talk about How the Heartland Went Red happening December 4. Image of book cover and author Stephanie Ternullo with QR code to register

Friendly reminder that next week the MHA is hosting a very timely book talk. Plenty of time to register before W.

We’re quickly approaching the CFP deadline for next years MHA conference in Iowa. Get your proposals in now and be part of another incredible conference with an amazing group of scholars. Deadline: December 2

Jon Gjerde Prize — Midwestern History Association

It's Awards Seasons! The Jon Gjerde Prize is given annually to the author(s) of the best book in Midwestern history published during the previous calendar year (2024). Publishers and authors are invited to submit books for consideration by Jan. 15, 2025. www.midwesternhistory.com/jon-gjerde-p...

Dorothy Schwieder Prize — Midwestern History Association

The Dorothy Schwieder Prize is awarded annually for the best article on Midwestern history published in peer-reviewed journals during the previous calendar year (2024). Authors and journal editors are welcome to submit nominations before Jan. 15, 2025. www.midwesternhistory.com/dorothy-schw...