Amidst everything going on — we need insights on the dynamics of how we got here.
The right-wing, the media, and right-wing media politics — are key concerns today.
@ajbauer.bsky.social wrote the book on it. Buy “Making The Liberal Media” now. It’s wise & readable, historical & (painfully) urgent…
characteristically good work from Serwer. again saying: we have an elite impunity problem and a lot of the people and institutions that nominally oppose Trump will burn down their own before admitting that this helped produce him
Tomorrow, the great @prisonculture.bsky.social & I are in conversation on KING OF THE NORTH at the NYPL at 6:30 --we'll unpack the many myths & omissions about the ways we understand Martin & Coretta Scott King's work & what a fuller history shows for the struggle today.
www.nypl.org/events/progr...
I got to talk about Black Reconstruction and the general strike that ended slavery @marketplace.org
This is terrifically sad news. One of the true giants of the historical profession, endlessly curious and creative, and a genuine pioneer of new kinds of international history, especially using NGOs and culture as topics/methodology.
For today, we need to also hold up the fierce freedom fighting legacy of Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s political partner. Eight ways to be like her for our struggle today.
This is my annual reminder that the MLK holiday began as a strike demand, which seems particularly relevant as we look toward A Day of Truth and Freedom: No Work, No School, No Shopping on January 23. @thenation.com
📕 proofs…
‘Troop Movements’ (2026)
Why we all need a union: Dickerson said the union “will ensure our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member.”
"UAW backs worker who yelled at Trump, condemns ‘vulgar’ behavior"
📕 proofs…
‘Troop Movements’ (2026)
Friends, Claudette Colvin—the 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in March 1955 & joined the federal case against bus segregation that went to the Supreme Court — died today at age 86. But there are lots of myths and mis-impressions about her. A short corrective thread:
Will you be at the AHA historians meeting in Chicago this week? Hope to cross paths.
This week proves to be a timely moment — to discuss the links between empire and economy, class and war.
These are two panels — on Saturday, January 10:
The racist right-wing claims paternalistic protection over women.
So, they demonize those who enact solidarity — Viola Liuzzo — Heather Heyer — Renee Good — 💐
When Liuzzo was killed — Hoover's FBI launched a smear campaign about her sexuality.
Millions hate Hoover and honor Liuzzo.
Two AHA panels that will be of great interest to historians of empire, labor, and the Cold War. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Chicago later this week!
Humbled to see that my article, was one of the most-read of the year — in the journal ‘Labor: Studies in Working Class History’.
I wrote about militarism and capitalism, class and war.
Checkout this + other great articles in “Labor”:
lawcha.org/2025/12/23/t...
@lawcha.bsky.social
@shafrhistorians.bsky.social
Will you be at the AHA historians meeting in Chicago this week? Hope to cross paths.
This week proves to be a timely moment — to discuss the links between empire and economy, class and war.
These are two panels — on Saturday, January 10:
Headed to Chicago this week? Check out these panels made by and for @shafrhistorians.bsky.social #AHA2026
Watching MSNBC — an important day for breaking news about US/Venezuela war.
MSNOW reports MAGA foreign-policy claims — without much fact-checking of Trump’s lies.
MSNOW reports MAGA’s pro-war stance — without much mention of congressional Democrats’ anti-war consensus.
#NoKings ?
Wrote a little about my favorite books and movies of 2025
kasiareads.com/2025/12/31/b...
Today, our ten most read posts of 2025!
What good is policy-adjacent scholarship? Does the 1st Amendment protect the economic infrastructure of speech? Can Trump grant Texas 40 Senators through executive order?
Our brilliant authors answered these and other questions during this annus horribilis.
Next is"Gotta Study War Work More" (vol. 22, no. 3) by @tejnagaraja.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1215/1547...
Honored to be on the list. Thrilled to be ranked so highly!
And finally, "Class/War: Do Labor and Military History Work Together?" (vol. 22, no. 3) by @justinfdjackson.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1215/1547...
To wrap up the year, here are LABOR’s Most Read Articles of 2025! @dukepress.bsky.social is making these articles free for all to read from now until January 31, 2026.
NYT obituary — “Betty Reid Soskin, Nation’s Oldest Park Ranger, Dies at 104”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
RIP Betty Reid Soskin — age 104.
As a Rosie The Riveter park ranger — she was a storyteller of her own journey, and of America’s past century.
My book ‘Troop Movements’ (2026) is about such ordinary/extraordinary working people — whose WW2 struggles echoed onward, for decades since.
💐
What connects labor and military history? The new LABOR Up for Debate, “The Wages of War,” tackles that question head-on. This WHOLE ROUNDTABLE is FREE to read for the next 3 months.
doi.org/10.1215/1547...
Tejasvi Nagaraja’s “Gotta Study War Work More” takes us to WWII, showing how soldiers and civilians weighed the “wages of war” in pursuit of justice, democracy, and survival.
doi.org/10.1215/1547...
Our latest issue (22:4) is now available online!
read.dukeupress.edu/labor/issue/...
