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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

@fisherdanar.bsky.social

26K followers 2.4K following 4K posts

Director, Center for Environment Community, & Equity and Professor, AU | NonRes Sr Fellow, Brookings | IPCCWG3 AR6 | www.danarfisher.com | TED Talk on Saving Ourselves: go.ted.com/danarfisher

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Dana R. Fisher is an American sociologist, professor of sociology, public speaker, and author. She is the director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity and a professor in the School of International Service at American University. Her areas of research and expertise are activism, democracy, the climate crisis, and environmental policy. .. more

Political science 27%

Environmental science 23%

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · Nov 19

My TED Talk on Saving Ourselves is OUT! Tune in to learn why we ALL need to be apocalyptic optimists: Prepared for the climate shocks that are coming and ready to rally as activists, disruptors, and bridge-builders to save ourselves from the climate crisis. go.ted.com/danarfisher

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1h

I'm taking a moment for a timeline cleanse to celebrate getting Conditional Acceptance on a paper that is so perfect for the moment (stay tuned for why). Before that, though, here's my reminder to myself (and everyone who needs to hear it): Always CELEBRATE THE GOOD STUFF when the work pays off!

a man in a number 21 jersey is surrounded by other soccer players

ALT: a man in a number 21 jersey is surrounded by other soccer players

media.tenor.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1h

Looks like a must read here folks! I expect it will overlap with the important work of @akjuartz.bsky.social and colleagues, but I've got to get a copy to check it out!

Council on Strategic Risks @councilonstrategicrisks.org · 2h

🎙️Tune into the Sirens podcast as @erinsikorsky.bsky.social discusses her new book “Climate Change on the Battlefield.”

⬇️ Learn how #climatechange affects military operations and readiness worldwide, and how the US can better address systemic risks

Climate Change on the Battlefield

Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/08/2025 · 27m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Council on Strategic Risks @councilonstrategicrisks.org · 2h

Climate Change on the Battlefield

Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/08/2025 · 27m

podcasts.apple.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3h

Must read if you missed it yesterday. Let the outrage rush over you and then do something (#NoKings 2.0 is Saturday fyi)👇

Politico @politico.com · 22h

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.

Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 4h

Here’s a better one: www.thedailybeast.com/mike-johnson...

Mike Johnson Reveals Ultimate Suck-Up for Trump Nobel Prize

The House Speaker is pushing forward with an effort to get Trump the prize...next year.

www.thedailybeast.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 4h

For anyone wondering what Mike Johnson has been up to while our government is Shut Down and he refuses to reconvene the Congress, here you go: www.axios.com/2025/10/14/m...

Mike Johnson, Israeli speaker to rally for Trump getting 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said Trump deserves the "highest recognition" for his work in the Middle East.

www.axios.com

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Reposted by Aaron Sojourner, Dana R. Fisher, Greg Linden , and 1 more Aaron Sojourner, Dana R. Fisher, Greg Linden, Dan Immergluck

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 4h

We were actually getting somewhere, too. 😞

@sbmitche.bsky.social
www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 4h

💯

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 5h

And NO, there's ZERO evidence that anyone who participates will be paid. In all my decades studying left leaning protest in the US (starting in the 1990s), I have yet to have respondents to surveys actually report being paid.

a judge is sitting in a courtroom with her eyes closed and the words `` just no '' written on her face .

ALT: a judge is sitting in a courtroom with her eyes closed and the words `` just no '' written on her face .

media.tenor.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 5h

Important reminder that participants at #NoKings Day on Saturday will be paid in the knowledge that they did Something to stand up to this wave of autocracy crashing over our country. Is it enough? NO, but it's a good place to start.

𝙹𝚊𝚢 𝙵 𝙰𝚛𝚗𝚘𝚕𝚍 @jayfarrellarnold.bsky.social · 1d

Sean Duffy is out there saying “No Kings” protesters are paid antifa.

Nobody told me that.

What’s the pay?

Freedom from fascism sounds about right.

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 5h

This piece is beautiful and informative all at the same time (and a great reminder about why everyone who feels relatively comfortable participating in our democracy at the moment really MUST get out and join the masses in the streets--and it's going to be the masses at #NoKings 2.0) 👇

Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · 13h

I wrote about how all the beautiful dumb stuff really does matter, and why you should come out for No Kings Day on Saturday.

The opposite of complicity

Why showing up matters and what it can actually do.

degenerateart.beehiiv.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 6h

😍😍

OgeneO 🤷🏻‍♂️ @ogeneo.com · 2d

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · 13h

I wrote about how all the beautiful dumb stuff really does matter, and why you should come out for No Kings Day on Saturday.

The opposite of complicity

Why showing up matters and what it can actually do.

degenerateart.beehiiv.com

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 16h

#ThisBullshitHasToStop 👇

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

Q: Politico reported on a group chat of young Republicans. Does this just reflect some bad apples?

HOCHUL: Some bad apples? These are the future of the GOP. This is so vile it's hard to find the words to put into context ... there's gotta be consequences ... this bullshit has to stop.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, American Library Association, Melissa Johnson , and 9 more Anna O. Law, American Library Association, Melissa Johnson, Michael J. Allen, John Collins, Michael Kevane, Dana R. Fisher, Lisa Diedrich, Henry Jones, Simon Lester, Olivier Mannoni, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Marc Lynch, Kim L. Scheppele , and 25 more Anna O. Law, Marc Lynch, Kim L. Scheppele, Richard S.J. Tol, Stephan Lewandowsky, Linda J. Skitka, Bryan D. Jones, David Rothschild, Philip N. Cohen, Melissa Johnson, Vincent Tiberj, Eric Goldman, Fabián Muniesa, Jacob Montgomery, Adam Wellstead, Daniel W. Drezner, David R. Miller, Lesley Bartlett, Robert B. Reich, Michael D. McDonald, Anne Norton, Dana R. Fisher, Raúl Pacheco-Vega, Karen O’Leary, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Andrew Kydd, David Darmofal

Politico @politico.com · 22h

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

𝙹𝚊𝚢 𝙵 𝙰𝚛𝚗𝚘𝚕𝚍 @jayfarrellarnold.bsky.social · 1d

Sean Duffy is out there saying “No Kings” protesters are paid antifa.

Nobody told me that.

What’s the pay?

Freedom from fascism sounds about right.

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

I’m still waiting for the ability to edit my typos Ugg

a woman covering her eyes with her hands and a wristband

ALT: a woman covering her eyes with her hands and a wristband

media.tenor.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Just dusting these off and charging them up for #NoKings day this weekend. We'll be out in the streets in DC survey protest participants. On top of our usual questions about who's participation, what motivates them, and how engaged they are civically we are adding a NEW QUESTION about media diets!

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Absolutely, but a mass mobilization needs to include people of all ages and young people have shown up less to these moments of Resistance since Trump took office in 2025.

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

💯 David!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Also, don’t forget tonight’s nude bikers—there’s a long history of nudity as protest!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

😁 can’t wait to watch everyone show their power (and Gotta keep the dataset updated even though I’ll be analyzing my data on an international flight that evening)!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Yay! Please share a photo Saturday and I can include it in my thread from across the country!!

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Since NoKings 2.0 is this weekend, I thought I’d reup what I was seeing earlier this year…

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · Apr 20

These images and stories from yesterday's mobilizations across the US are inspiring, but one thing that is visibly absent from Resistance2.0 so far is young people. Based on conversations with youth and campus organizers I know and data I've collected, here are some likely reasons (short 🧵)

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · Apr 20

www.reuters.com/world/us/tho...

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

We actually have a paper on the diversity of social movement tactics and popular perspectives on them coming out very soon. That might be of interest to everyone. #staytuned