Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

Acclaimed 20th century philosopher Jürgen Habermas dies at 96 Associated with the Frankfurt School, Habermas was a world-renowned thinker on modernity and democracy who helped shape German post-war and post-reunification political discourse.

RIP Jurgen Habermas—a scholar who showed us how to use our personal experiences ro inform social theory. www.npr.org/2026/03/14/n...

I speak and write a lot about why the repression of climate activism will backfire: they are are renewable resource! Here's a good summary from my recent conversation with Tom Raftery for The Climate Confident podcast.

Tune into the whole conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsx...

What I learned studying the social consequences of the LA Wildfires This week, my paper on wildfire displacement (co-authored with Julie Gonzalez) was published at Environmental Research Climate. The paper summarizes our efforts to understand the social consequence…

This week's Apocalyptic Optimist newsletter looks at the social consequences of climate shocks and explains what Julie A. González and I learned by studying the LA Wildfires last year. Give it a read to learn how it's leading to better research post disaster! danarfisher.com/2026/03/14/w...

#ScholarSunday Thread 267 (3/15/26) – Black and White and Read All Over Before tonight’s Oscars, I’d like to nominate myself for Best Supporting Scholar with my 267th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the past ...

Before the Oscars, I’m nominating myself for Best Supporting Scholar with my 267th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share widely, & the winner will be … all of us! 🗃️

blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

Climate policy feasibility across Europe relies on the conditional middle - Nature Climate Change The feasibility of climate policies hinges on public support. A survey of 13 EU countries shows that ‘middle groups’—citizens whose support across mitigation measures varies, rather than being uniform...

This valuable new paper looks at climate policy feasibility and the need for support from moderates. I wonder how well these findings hold when we look beyond Europe--really hoping someone is pursuing this line of inquiry!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Nice to see folks like @timothysnyder.bsky.social recognizing the role that fossil fuel interests have played in getting us to this point and noting how a transition to clean renewable energy would be good for democracy more broadly.

Palantir CEO Makes Shocking Confession on Disrupting Democratic Power They’re saying the quiet part out loud now.

Palantir CEO promises that his technology will reduce educated women's economic and political power newrepublic.com/post/207693/...

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Our nearest big town, Ellsworth Maine, has an old dam that someone turned into a projection screen. 1/

The Apocalyptic Optimist A newsletter and blog for real talk about what’s broken and how to fix it.

To sign up to receive weekly doses of apocalyptic optimism delivered directly to your email box for free, go here: danarfisher.com/apocalyptic-...

What I learned studying the social consequences of the LA Wildfires This week, my paper on wildfire displacement (co-authored with Julie Gonzalez) was published at Environmental Research Climate. The paper summarizes our efforts to understand the social consequence…

This week's Apocalyptic Optimist newsletter looks at the social consequences of climate shocks and explains what Julie A. González and I learned by studying the LA Wildfires last year. Give it a read to learn how it's leading to better research post disaster! danarfisher.com/2026/03/14/w...

Always fun to be insurgent and green at the same time!

Yup, I heard!

Cool—Please share what you write!

What is apocalyptic optimism? Here's an updated perspective from my recent conversation with @tomraftery.com for The Climate Confident podcast. Tune into the whole conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsx...

We've got a bill on deck here in Maryland as well!

Plug-In DIY Solar Is FINALLY Legal! Save $$$ Instantly! (Utah Just Changed Everything) YouTube video by There's A Trick For That

There’s a great explainer here and touches on some of the reasons other jurisdictions are cagey about approving it youtu.be/E_BFfrL80O0?...

Is anyone keeping a tally of the estimated emissions coming from the attack on Iran and the escalating war there? Maybe @akjorgenson.bsky.social ??

UK energy prices are soaring – and propagandists want to sell you a false reason why | George Monbiot The war on Iran has put fossil-fuel prices centre stage, but don’t believe those who tout ‘maximising the North Sea’ as our salvation, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

George Monbiot: "UK energy prices are soaring – and propagandists want to sell you a false reason why. The war on Iran has put fossil-fuel prices centre stage, but don’t believe those who tout ‘maximising the North Sea’ as our salvation."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Opinion | I Went to Florida to See the 31-Year-Old Candidate Thrilling Gen Z. We’re in Trouble.

This is a terrifying (and important) read from @michellegoldberg.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/o...

#jealous!

My sense is that the next big hurdle is getting folks to phase out the older ff-consuming cars (and not just exporting them to the developing world)...

This is just the fuel type used by passenger cars (EVs are assumed to be near-zero GHGs in the accounts). So yep - you're right, it's just a whole lotta older diesel / petrol cars that aren't old enough to scrap yet

I thought Norwegian electricity was 99% hydropower. So why so much fossil fuel reliance? Is it the age of the fleet, which is still oil reliant??

Related:

I should have said “won’t accommodate rooftop solar”…🤦‍♀️

Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them Utilities are convincing lawmakers around the U.S. to delay bills that would allow people to buy solar panels, plug them into an outlet and begin generating electricity.

As we prepare to move to a townhouse that cannot fit solar panels, I’m paying a lot of attention to this option, which would reduce our reliance on our utility: www.npr.org/2026/03/12/n...

Nope, that’s really different!

How to be an "apocalyptic optimist" Dana R. Fisher calls herself an "apocalyptic optimist" based on her research as a sociologist of large social movements. Her studies suggest that ever-increasing climate disasters will get people out ...

For a more detailed explanation, check out my TEDTalk go.ted.com/danarfisher

What is apocalyptic optimism? Here's an updated perspective from my recent conversation with @tomraftery.com for The Climate Confident podcast. Tune into the whole conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLsx...