Peter Steward Scholtes

Unpacking the effects of repression and civil disobedience I write a lot about protest and the ways that repression can escalate violence and lead to more disruptive tactics. So, I was delighted to read these recently published papers that help us understa…

This week, I focus on the recent research on repression and civil disobedience and how it helps us understand collective action and what we should expect to see as repression grows and activists mobilize to push back to draw attention to the growing polycrisis. danarfisher.com/2026/03/07/u...

Corpus Christi careens toward water catastrophe City officials expect to reach a “water emergency” within months and run out of water next year. That would halt jet fuel deliveries to Texas airports, hike gas prices and trigger a local economic dis...

City officials in Corpus Christi, Texas, expect to reach a “water emergency” within months and run out of water next year. That would halt jet fuel deliveries to airports, hike gas prices “and trigger a local economic disaster without precedent.”
www.texastribune.org/2026/03/08/t...

We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.

215. The Supreme Court and Vietnam The obstacles to litigating the grave legal questions arising from the United States' military operations against Iran can be traced to the Court's refusal to confront similar questions about Vietnam.

It may seem odd that a Supreme Court seemingly willing to stick its nose into the middle of just about every legal and policy issue has effectively closed the door to litigating the legality of the U.S. war against Iran. As today’s “One First” explains, though, it set that precedent during Vietnam:

OMG they released the deposition videos where they revealed that these two DOGE bros were just feeding grants into ChatGPT and saying "tell me if this is DEI in less than 120 characters."

www.techdirt.com/2026/02/19/d...

Denmark responded to 1973 oil crisis by reducing car-dependency. Let's do that now. - Streetsblog Chicago "The government had to introduce car-free Sundays. And then people realized that the car-free Sunday was the best day of the week."

FYI the 1970s oil crisis was the impetus for Copenhagen turning into a cycling city

Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials | Arkansas Advocate As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities.Lawmakers in at le...

Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/09/r...

Blue states push to ban ICE at the polls amid federal voter intimidation fears | Arkansas Advocate Several Democratic states are moving to bar federal immigration agents from being near polling places and other election sites, amid persistent worries that President Donald Trump will use federal law...

Blue states push to ban ICE at the polls amid federal voter intimidation fears arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/09/r...

Opinion | Trump’s bragging about the economy doesn’t match reality Philip Bump: New polling shows Americans remain skeptical of Trump’s leadership as president — including what was once his strongest issue: the economy.

Who wants to read an overview of how Trump's SOTU rhetoric about the economy has held up over the past two weeks? www.ms.now/opinion/trum...

Picture of a panel in a conference center. There is a dias with a black curtain at the front, and a gray podium. Behind the dias sits Carmen Maria Machado, a fair-skinned femme wearing glasses with dark hair, Umair Kazi, a brown masc with dark hair, Alex Hanna, a brown butch trans woman with short brown hair, and Vauhini Vara, a brown woman with long black hair wearing a red blouse.

There were 250 people in the audience, at the biggest available room for our #awp26 panel, Resisting AI in Writing and Teaching.

It was invigorating; hearing about how writing instructors are pushing back against their institutions was inspiring. Thanks to my co-panelists Carmen and Umair.

Fuzzy memories and hard facts: An SC accuser's claims against Epstein, Trump examined An alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein gave FBI agents true accounts of her time growing up in SC. Claims she made about Donald Trump remain unsubstantiated.

Stellar public records reporting here, with thoughtful context about sex crimes and memory. Well done, Mitchell Black, Marilyn Thompson, and Glenn Smith. www.postandcourier.com/news/epstein...

As this was happening you were told shoplifting and home invasions were grave threats you needed to abandon any pretense of sympathy to address.

Your turn to power map! Your turn to power map! 1 Make a copy of this presentation. (One copy per group.) Shortcut to this slide: bit.ly/djspowermap

Tried power mapping with my big lecture class and was pleased with the way it went. The assignment is here if you're interested in the logistics of it. docs.google.com/presentation...

State Rep. Francesca Hong, a bartender and Democratic Socialist, joins primary field for governor  • Wisconsin Examiner Hong told the Examiner she is running because she sees the current moment as ripe for a “movement for “building working class power."

State Rep. Francesca Hong, a bartender and Democratic Socialist, joins primary field for governor

DJ Jacques spinning the Congos at the Abolish ICE fundraiser Friday in Minneapolis. Watch the event and donate here: abolishice.live

LOL, I now think the singer meant "Pete" their sound guy — I blame the friendly folks around me and the second dark beer for my mistake!

Whole show still viewable, and you can donate on the site: abolishice.live

With Dropkick Murphys at the Abolish ICE benefit today — I was the “Peedah” they mentioned. “The Men Behind the Wire,” which they covered, was also sung by Emmett Doyle at the Whipple building last week.

Stream the full festival here: abolishice.live
Donate here: www.standwithminnesota.com

Aztec dancers in full feather headdresses walk away from the flower-covered memorial for Pretti after paying their respects.

With Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue at Alex Pretti’s memorial after they danced at the Abolish ICE fundraiser on Friday.

Woman holding homemade sign near Lake Street with ‘50s advertising illustration of a woman and the message: “Grab them by the ballot, November 2026.”

Smiling marchers, including mostly women of all ages, fill Lake Street in front of operators of a giant loon puppet, with the sign “Loons not goons.”

Two friends march together and smile for picture, one with a sign saying “Believe protect respect women.” Many marchers have raised fists.

With the International Women’s Day March in Minneapolis, in solidarity with immigrants, trans people, and the girls of Minab.

MTV REWIND - I Want My MTV Celebrating 44 years of continuous music videos. Stream classic music videos 24/7.

Today's delight: wantmymtv.vercel.app - 27,000 music videos to stream

When DOGE Unleashed ChatGPT on the Humanities

Huge NYT article on the back story of those two weeks in March/April 2025 when DOGE illegally terminated hundreds of NEH grants. Gift link!!

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/a...

Period products drive starts in 10 minutes!
Bring supplies to
2207 Franklin Ave E, Mpls 55404
Until 8pm

The cult of exaggerated anti-anti-semitism may end up with human extinction to answer for. Without the free hand the bipartisan blob granted Israel, because good-faith rageful critique of the IDF's sadistic recklessness could always be shouted down as "antisemitism," this crisis is inconceivable.

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live Mom Confession - SNL

Mom Confession - SNL
YouTube · Saturday Night Live
22 hours ago
youtu.be/-wQhY5CMMl4?...

Poll: A majority of Americans opposes U.S. military action in Iran Most Americans disapprove of President Trump's handling of Iran, and a majority sees Iran as either only a minor threat or no threat at all, an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds.

Most Americans disapprove of President Trump's handling of Iran, and a majority sees Iran as either only a minor threat or no threat at all, an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds.

Bernard LaFayette, Selma voting rights organizer, dies at 85 Bernard LaFayette, who died Thursday, laid the foundations of the Selma, Alabama, campaign that culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. He was a Freedom Rider and helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

Bernard LaFayette, who died Thursday, laid the foundations of the Selma, Alabama, campaign that culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. He was a Freedom Rider and helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. n.pr/4csIbWh

What the Trump administration says about why it went to war with Iran The Trump administration says it is "laser focused" and mission driven, but the messaging has been varied. The range of cited motivations for striking Iran now are sometimes at odds with each other.

The Trump administration says it is "laser focused" and mission driven, but the messaging has been varied. The range of cited motivations for striking Iran now are sometimes at odds with each other. n.pr/46O3DRT

A glimpse of Iran, through the eyes of its artists and journalists Understanding one of the world's oldest civilizations can't be achieved through a single film or book. But recent works of literature, journalism, music and film by Iranians are a powerful starting point.

Understanding one of the world's oldest civilizations can't be achieved through a single film or book. But recent works of literature, journalism, music and film by Iranians are a powerful starting point.