J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
History, analysis & unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England.
Pinned
J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
· Dec 4
When I joined Twitter years ago, I created multiple accounts for my separate interests and activities. Each account followed different groups and attracted different followers.
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Reposted by J. L. Bell
Who knew coffee could be so fascinating? I’m working on an episode of the podcast where @jmadelman.bsky.social interviews Michelle McDonald about her new book Coffee Nation.
The history behind the 18th-century coffee trade is really interesting.
The history behind the 18th-century coffee trade is really interesting.
Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States
How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States
bookshop.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Who knew coffee could be so fascinating? I’m working on an episode of the podcast where @jmadelman.bsky.social interviews Michelle McDonald about her new book Coffee Nation.
The history behind the 18th-century coffee trade is really interesting.
The history behind the 18th-century coffee trade is really interesting.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
This punitive policy jeopardizes housing for 1,100 Bostonians and nearly 4,000 people in Massachusetts, forcing thousands of vulnerable children and families onto the street during winter months. It is unconscionable. Housing is a human right.
December 4, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This punitive policy jeopardizes housing for 1,100 Bostonians and nearly 4,000 people in Massachusetts, forcing thousands of vulnerable children and families onto the street during winter months. It is unconscionable. Housing is a human right.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
WaPo confirms my scoop: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
SCOOP: Sources tell me Donald Trump's name was added to the exterior of the US Institute of Peace building ahead of Thursday's peace agreement signing between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which will be held inside the building. Confirming if it's been officially renamed.
December 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
WaPo confirms my scoop: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Even if they were on a "drug mission," the first strike was illegal and the second strike even more wildly illegal.
This is absolute nonsense from someone who committed war crimes and is now scrambling for cover. Lock him up.
This is absolute nonsense from someone who committed war crimes and is now scrambling for cover. Lock him up.
December 4, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Even if they were on a "drug mission," the first strike was illegal and the second strike even more wildly illegal.
This is absolute nonsense from someone who committed war crimes and is now scrambling for cover. Lock him up.
This is absolute nonsense from someone who committed war crimes and is now scrambling for cover. Lock him up.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I’ve got a great little story in my book of JQA baiting Virginia a congressman into letting him go on at length about George Washington’s antislavery bona fides.
December 4, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I’ve got a great little story in my book of JQA baiting Virginia a congressman into letting him go on at length about George Washington’s antislavery bona fides.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Or put different, he’s pardoning people at SEVENTY FIVE TIMES the annual rate of the Biden presidency
So far, in less than one year, Donald Trump has issued over TEN TIMES as many pardons as he did in his entire four-year first term. That’s a lot of criminals released onto our streets.
December 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Or put different, he’s pardoning people at SEVENTY FIVE TIMES the annual rate of the Biden presidency
Reposted by J. L. Bell
A year ago, Tracy Hoeg was selling people unproven therapies (like injecting your own blood into your knees) for cash. She is trained in physical medicine & rehabilitation, & does not have any relevant background for this position other than being a prolific & extreme antivaxxer and disease promoter
I suspect FDA no longer has qualified people willing to do this job.
"FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has appointed Tracy Beth Høeg, a longtime skeptic of Covid-19 vaccines, to be the acting director of the agency’s drug unit,...."
endpoints.news/fda-to-name-... @endpts.com
"FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has appointed Tracy Beth Høeg, a longtime skeptic of Covid-19 vaccines, to be the acting director of the agency’s drug unit,...."
endpoints.news/fda-to-name-... @endpts.com
Breaking: FDA to name Tracy Beth Hoeg, who helped lead Covid shot investigation, as acting CDER chief
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has appointed Tracy Beth Høeg, a longtime skeptic of Covid-19 vaccines, to be the acting director of the agency's drug unit
endpoints.news
December 4, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A year ago, Tracy Hoeg was selling people unproven therapies (like injecting your own blood into your knees) for cash. She is trained in physical medicine & rehabilitation, & does not have any relevant background for this position other than being a prolific & extreme antivaxxer and disease promoter
Reposted by J. L. Bell
This is the same administration that accuses the National Park Service and Smithsonian of engaging in indoctrination. www.nj.com/education/20...
Parents furious as ‘patriotic’ event tied to Charlie Kirk comes to N.J. school. ‘I’m absolutely speechless.’
Families were told their public school kids will be part of the Trump Administration's nationwide history tour tied to Turning Point USA and other conservative groups.
www.nj.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:06 AM
This is the same administration that accuses the National Park Service and Smithsonian of engaging in indoctrination. www.nj.com/education/20...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Pete Hegseth on Sept 3 talking about the strike on boats where 2 survivors were later killed in a second strike: “I watched it live.”
December 2, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Pete Hegseth on Sept 3 talking about the strike on boats where 2 survivors were later killed in a second strike: “I watched it live.”
Reposted by J. L. Bell
This really is nuts
December 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This really is nuts
Reposted by J. L. Bell
OK I’ve put together the list. Shame on all of them:
Ford CEO Jim Farley
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa
General Motors plant manager John Urbanic
National Auto Dealers Association Chairman Tom Castriota
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy
Deputy transportation Sec Steven Bradbury
1/2
Ford CEO Jim Farley
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa
General Motors plant manager John Urbanic
National Auto Dealers Association Chairman Tom Castriota
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy
Deputy transportation Sec Steven Bradbury
1/2
December 3, 2025 at 11:33 PM
OK I’ve put together the list. Shame on all of them:
Ford CEO Jim Farley
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa
General Motors plant manager John Urbanic
National Auto Dealers Association Chairman Tom Castriota
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy
Deputy transportation Sec Steven Bradbury
1/2
Ford CEO Jim Farley
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa
General Motors plant manager John Urbanic
National Auto Dealers Association Chairman Tom Castriota
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy
Deputy transportation Sec Steven Bradbury
1/2
Reposted by J. L. Bell
With Paul Giamatti as JQA
December 4, 2025 at 1:10 AM
With Paul Giamatti as JQA
Reposted by J. L. Bell
December 4, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Hmm. Ghislaine Maxwell is filing a habeas petition challenging her incarceration PRO SE (no lawyers). I guess even David Markus has his limits? Incidentally, she's worried that the release of the Epstein files would be devastating to her case.
December 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Hmm. Ghislaine Maxwell is filing a habeas petition challenging her incarceration PRO SE (no lawyers). I guess even David Markus has his limits? Incidentally, she's worried that the release of the Epstein files would be devastating to her case.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Using his clemency power, Trump has undone prosecutions made by his own DOJ during his first term.
Experts say the actions show a broad contempt for the justice system: “He’s rejecting ... the work of people he appointed but didn’t fully control.”
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
Experts say the actions show a broad contempt for the justice system: “He’s rejecting ... the work of people he appointed but didn’t fully control.”
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
A Tale of Two Terms: How Powerful Figures Were Prosecuted in Trump’s First Term, Then Pardoned in His Second
We found that Donald Trump has granted clemency in at least a dozen criminal cases that originated during his first term. No other president has used clemency to erase his own appointees’ actions on s...
www.propublica.org
December 3, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Using his clemency power, Trump has undone prosecutions made by his own DOJ during his first term.
Experts say the actions show a broad contempt for the justice system: “He’s rejecting ... the work of people he appointed but didn’t fully control.”
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
Experts say the actions show a broad contempt for the justice system: “He’s rejecting ... the work of people he appointed but didn’t fully control.”
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
Reposted by J. L. Bell
My latest piece, for the History News Network - why sending federal troops into US cities is a 2nd Amendment Issue.
I've written a bunch of op-eds and the like over the years. This is my best one yet.
#2A
www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/depl...
I've written a bunch of op-eds and the like over the years. This is my best one yet.
#2A
www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/depl...
Deploying Federal Troops to U.S. Cities Is a Second Amendment Issue
But not because the founders wanted to see more guns in the hands of Americans.
www.historynewsnetwork.org
December 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
My latest piece, for the History News Network - why sending federal troops into US cities is a 2nd Amendment Issue.
I've written a bunch of op-eds and the like over the years. This is my best one yet.
#2A
www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/depl...
I've written a bunch of op-eds and the like over the years. This is my best one yet.
#2A
www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/depl...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
An experienced organizer I really respect once reminded folks "you can't always win, but you can always, always inflict a cost. Those add up."
You cannot match the size and resources of these organizations that are abandoning trans youth and sacrificing trans lives, but you have one advantage they do not: an ability to maintain a relentless focus upon them.
Make it your work, every week, to think about how you can punish them.
Make it your work, every week, to think about how you can punish them.
December 3, 2025 at 10:21 PM
An experienced organizer I really respect once reminded folks "you can't always win, but you can always, always inflict a cost. Those add up."
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Senate Intel Vice Chair Mark Warner on the Signalgate report: "Hegseth endangered the lives of American pilots based aboard the USS Harry S. Truman as they prepared to launch a mission against terrorist targets."
He is calling for Hegseth to resign.
He is calling for Hegseth to resign.
December 3, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Senate Intel Vice Chair Mark Warner on the Signalgate report: "Hegseth endangered the lives of American pilots based aboard the USS Harry S. Truman as they prepared to launch a mission against terrorist targets."
He is calling for Hegseth to resign.
He is calling for Hegseth to resign.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
#copyediting
The past tense of "wreak" is not "wrought." The past tense of "wreak" is "wreaked."
("Wrought" is an antique past tense of "work," as in "iron" or "What hath God.")
The past tense of "wreak" is not "wrought." The past tense of "wreak" is "wreaked."
("Wrought" is an antique past tense of "work," as in "iron" or "What hath God.")
December 3, 2025 at 11:11 PM
#copyediting
The past tense of "wreak" is not "wrought." The past tense of "wreak" is "wreaked."
("Wrought" is an antique past tense of "work," as in "iron" or "What hath God.")
The past tense of "wreak" is not "wrought." The past tense of "wreak" is "wreaked."
("Wrought" is an antique past tense of "work," as in "iron" or "What hath God.")
Reposted by J. L. Bell
JUST IN: Mike Johnson plans to swear in Rep.-elect Matt Van Epps on Thursday — less than two days after he won the TN-07 special election.
As a reminder, it took Johnson 50 days to swear in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva.
As a reminder, it took Johnson 50 days to swear in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva.
December 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
JUST IN: Mike Johnson plans to swear in Rep.-elect Matt Van Epps on Thursday — less than two days after he won the TN-07 special election.
As a reminder, it took Johnson 50 days to swear in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva.
As a reminder, it took Johnson 50 days to swear in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The CEOs of Ford and Stellantis, as well as senior executives from other auto manufacturers, standing beside him while Trump goes off on another vicious racist rant about African immigrants. Not one of them had the courage or the dignity to walk away.
bsky.app/profile/just...
bsky.app/profile/just...
Trump, continued: "What the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable. It’s not even believable. And a lot of it starts with the governor. A lot of it starts with Barack HUSSEIN Obama, because that’s when people started coming in... They want to kiss our country good night."
December 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The CEOs of Ford and Stellantis, as well as senior executives from other auto manufacturers, standing beside him while Trump goes off on another vicious racist rant about African immigrants. Not one of them had the courage or the dignity to walk away.
bsky.app/profile/just...
bsky.app/profile/just...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
We examined Trump's claim that he stopped six wars within six months. Here's what we found: www.snopes.com/news/2025/08...
Examining Trump's claim he ended 6 wars in 6 months
His role in ending some of these “wars” has been disputed.
www.snopes.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:24 PM
We examined Trump's claim that he stopped six wars within six months. Here's what we found: www.snopes.com/news/2025/08...
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Imagine if just one of them said, "Mr. President, I came here to support a policy related to our industry. But I cannot stand here and listen to you denigrate people in this way. It's racist and it's wrong. If my shareholders disagree, they can have my resignation. But I cannot be part of this."
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Imagine if just one of them said, "Mr. President, I came here to support a policy related to our industry. But I cannot stand here and listen to you denigrate people in this way. It's racist and it's wrong. If my shareholders disagree, they can have my resignation. But I cannot be part of this."
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Whenever Trump’s in trouble he pulls out the racism to throw red meat to the base so they can feel better about starving because at least they’re white 🤷🏾♀️
I’m fascinated by how white people get played by white supremacy. Y’all would live on dirt floors as long as you can call yourselves white 😝
I’m fascinated by how white people get played by white supremacy. Y’all would live on dirt floors as long as you can call yourselves white 😝
December 3, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Whenever Trump’s in trouble he pulls out the racism to throw red meat to the base so they can feel better about starving because at least they’re white 🤷🏾♀️
I’m fascinated by how white people get played by white supremacy. Y’all would live on dirt floors as long as you can call yourselves white 😝
I’m fascinated by how white people get played by white supremacy. Y’all would live on dirt floors as long as you can call yourselves white 😝