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Philip Nel

@philnel.bsky.social

750 followers 570 following 660 posts

👨🏼‍🏫 Prof. he/him. 📚 Books on children's books & comics: https://philnel.com/writing/books/ 📷 IG: thephilnel 🐘 Mastodon: @[email protected] 🎵 Spotify: thephilnel 🐦 Twitter (deleted acct in 2022): @philnel

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Philip W. Nel is an American scholar of children's literature and University Distinguished Professor of English at Kansas State University. He is best known for his work on Dr. Seuss and Harry Potter, which has led to him being a guest on such media programs as CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation, and CNN's Don Lemon Tonight. .. more

Art 33%

Communication & Media Studies 22%

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Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · Jul 26

1/2 ⬇️ This is an excellent idea & I am co-signing & invite my fellow academics to join me. Academia depends on a lot of unpaid labor. Withhold your labor from Columbia. ⬇️

James Grimmelmann @jtlg.bsky.social · Jul 25

In light of Columbia's capitulation to the Trump regime's illegal and extortionate demands, I have resolved not to write for Columbia publications, speak at Columbia events, or perform other free labor for a university that has repudated its values.

3d.laboratorium.net/2025-07-25-c...

Columbia’s Capitulation

Universities exist to promote the discovery, preservation, and transmission of knowledge. While they can help make to make a society virtuous, prosperous, and free, they do so by pursing their mission...

3d.laboratorium.net

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Deborah McDowell @dem8z.bsky.social · 6h

subjects and silencing departments that tell a more complete story about the history of Western civilization and contemporary US society. As a world-class public institution, UT must preserve intellectual diversity and educational liberty. The government should not tell adult, 3/

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Deborah McDowell @dem8z.bsky.social · 6h

This decision by UT’s administration is not driven by any educational reasons; after all, the departments facing elimination are full of field-defining, award-winning faculty. UT administrators are falling in lockstep with a nationwide political attack on the freedom to learn by censoring 2/

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Reposted by Nandita Sharma, Philip Nel, Karen Benjamin Guzzo , and 7 more Nandita Sharma, Philip Nel, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Rebecca Tushnet, Bárbara J. Risman, Judith Beyer, Erin O’Donnell, Charles T. Mathewes, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, James M. Thomas

Deborah McDowell @dem8z.bsky.social · 6h

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!

The University of Texas-Austin is beginning a process to eliminate the Black Studies, Latino Studies, and Gender Studies departments in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas. 1/

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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 11h

🗳️ SCOTUS will rehear a case that could gut one of the last protections against racially biased voting maps, potentially locking in GOP control of the House for a generation. Join us Wednesday at 10 AM ET on Bluesky @democracydocket.com for live coverage.
https://bit.ly/4q7aQ7D

GOP Could Lock in House Control for a Generation if SCOTUS Ends Key VRA Protection, Report Warns

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 19h

Make America Sick Again! (Or: The Predictable Results of Putting a Quack in Charge of HHS.) #FireRFKJr

NPR @npr.org · 20h

In South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number. n.pr/4obbfnK

U.S. measles cases continue to climb, with outbreaks across the country

In South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number.

n.pr

Reposted by Philip Nel

NPR @npr.org · 20h

U.S. measles cases continue to climb, with outbreaks across the country

In South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number.

n.pr

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✨Ki✨ ❤️‍🔥🎃 @roguetime.bsky.social · 20h

They’ve added a brass band.

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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 23h

“We’re cold, but not as cold as ICE,” said a sign on one rider’s back.

Portland cyclists strip down in pouring rain to protest ICE facility and Trump troop deployment

“We’re cold, but not as cold as ICE,” said a sign on one rider’s back.

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel

ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

Current and former Department of Education employees: We want to hear from you.

Use Signal to contact our reporters @jsmithrichards.bsky.social at jsmithrichards.93, @jodiscohen.bsky.social at jodireporter.88 or @megomatz.bsky.social at 414-207-6225.

Help ProPublica Report on Education

ProPublica needs your help to track how the upheaval of public education is affecting schools and colleges in your community. Take a few minutes to join our source network and help guide our coverage.

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Esther K. Choo, Rebecca Tushnet , and 2 more Philip Nel, Esther K. Choo, Rebecca Tushnet, Lesley Bartlett, David Darmofal

NPR @npr.org · 1d

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

This 4-year-old's heart is failing. A federal grant that might help him was canceled

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

n.pr

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting point here from @lutzfernandez.bsky.social: MAGA hates their designated enemies of the moment (blue America, migrants, etc) so much that they're enthusiastically taking their rage out on their children, too:
annelutzfernandez.substack.com/p/americas-a...

America’s Assault on Children

Using kids to consolidate authoritarianism

annelutzfernandez.substack.com

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Reposted by Philip Nel, David R. Miller

Emily "Babe" St. James @emilystjams.bsky.social · 1d

If we really put our heads together and keep the evening of December 24 clear, I am convinced we can Christmas Carol this man.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "I don't think there's anything that's gonna get me in heaven. I think I'm not maybe heaven bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to make heaven."

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Philip Nel, Pamela K. Gilbert , and 2 more Steve Peers, Philip Nel, Pamela K. Gilbert, Jacob T. Levy, Scott A. Imberman

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 1d

This two-parter below is exactly why it's hard to make clothes in the United States.

Let's look at how much it costs to produce a button-up shirt in the US. 🧵

Someone on Twitter replies to me: "meh. buy american or stfu."

Two hours later, in a separate thread, the write: "$30 for a single button-up is ridiculous unless it is decent quality silk."

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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 1d

Chicago journalist Debbie Brockman, who was thrown to the ground & handcuffed by ICE, has been released without charges

DHS said she assaulted an officer, but eye witnesses claim she didn’t

The lack of charges makes it clear that ICE is lying to try and cover up the fact that they attack the press

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PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 @patriottakes.bsky.social · 1d

Trump golfing today during the government shutdown

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Ebony Elizabeth Thomas @ebonyteach.blacksky.app · 1d

I see the light in our teacher candidates' eyes when they speak about working with young people.

We are light workers. I don't want that light hidden under a proverbial bushel. I want it to shine. God knows we need all the candles we can get in these bleak times.

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Reposted by Joe R. Feagin, Tom Shakespeare, Diane Ravitch , and 6 more Joe R. Feagin, Tom Shakespeare, Diane Ravitch, Patricia Aufderheide, Philip Nel, John Foot, W. Andy Knight, Anne Norton, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 1d

“No, Speaker Johnson — the No Kings rally on October 18 is not a hate America rally. In fact, it’s quite the contrary: It’s a love America rally.” #NoKings

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Shibley Telhami, Scott L. Greer , and 1 more Anna O. Law, Shibley Telhami, Scott L. Greer, Philip Nel

Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 2d

Extinguishing MLK's Eternal Flame is both outrageous and a hell of a metaphor for right now www.wsbtv.com/news/local/a...

Eternal flame at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Atlanta burial site destroyed

Police say the man also urinated in the reflective pool.

www.wsbtv.com

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Ann Telnaes @anntelnaes.bsky.social · 2d

anntelnaes.substack.com/p/shot-in-th...

Shot in the head with pepper spray

This is Trump's America

anntelnaes.substack.com

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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 2d

The Trump administration's latest layoffs include HUD staffers who investigate fair housing complaints, "disease detectives," and the team that publishes the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Donald Trump's war on public health enters a new phase

Another bad day at the CDC

www.motherjones.com

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ACLU @aclu.org · 2d

The people have the power.

Communities in Portland and across the country are making it clear that troops don’t belong in our streets.

Kristi Noem came to Portland, and people protested with dogs, dancing: Get caught up

As U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Noem made the case for increased security, local officials repeated that the situation was well in hand.

www.oregonlive.com

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Ali Velshi @velshi.com · 2d

History does not unfold in discrete large moments, but in many small ones over the course of a continuous, chaotic timeline. All of us have a part to play in making change and fighting for democracy, but we must do so before the current timeline is in the rearview mirror. #Velshi

Velshi: We are all the authors of democracy – and must act in time to save it

In his novel “War and Peace,” the author Leo Tolstoy tells us that history does not unfold in discrete moments, but rather as a collection of small things that happen in a continuous, chaotic timeline. Ali Velshi explains the importance of taking in the chaotic timeline we are in, right now, before it passes us by. The survival of democracy relies on all of our collective stewardship and our recognizing the gravity of our current moment.

www.msnbc.com

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Boots on the Ground Midwest @bootsonthegroundkc.bsky.social · 2d

Join us for a safe, peaceful, and welcoming protest next Saturday😎

@indivisible.org
@50501movement.bsky.social
#NoKings

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Reposted by Philip Nel, David R. Miller, James Goodwin , and 1 more Philip Nel, David R. Miller, James Goodwin, Kathleen Kennedy

Lynn Stahl @msbtterswrth.altgov.info · 2d

Hot off the presses! If you need a bigger size to print your stickers let me know!

The Portland frog as a founding father, surround by the words "give me ribberty or give me death"

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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 2d

It's official:

-2025 is now a more threatening year for the survival of the republic than 1968.

-John Roberts will now go down in history as a worse chief justice than Roger "Dred Scott" Taney.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

www.nytimes.com

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Alt Acadia National Park @altacadia.bsky.social · 2d

We 💯 support Amphifa! Give me ribbety, or give me death. 🐸

A poster for "Amphifa: amphibians against fascism" showing a black and green flag with a green frog

Three protestors dressed in inflatable frog costumes holding a sign that says "Portland frog brigade"

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Sanford F. Schram, Mark Rice

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

This week, MAGA figures claimed Kristi Noem "stared down" violent antifa protesters in Portland. Turns out they were talking mostly about a guy in a chicken suit.

This episode opens a window into how MAGA propaganda works and MSM failure to handle it. 1/

(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2016...

MAGA Implodes over Kristi Noem’s “Stare Down” with Man in Chicken Suit

A good New York Times piece on Portland nevertheless demonstrates how the conventions of objective reporting fail to accurately capture the bad faith driving pro-Trump propaganda.

newrepublic.com

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Avery Udagawa @averyudagawa.bsky.social · 2d

Read "Being Banned is Not an Award," @philnel.bsky.social's incisive piece for #IBBY #Bookbird 63:3, free through 31 Oct 2025: tinyurl.com/3hy62uye #BannedBooksWeek

Project MUSE - "Being Banned Is Not an Award"

tinyurl.com