Marie Francois
@mefrancois.bsky.social
History professor, research on everyday life in 18th and 19th cenury Mexico City, mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, feminist, anti-racist, scholar, author, historian
Reposted by Marie Francois
If you’re looking for Palestinian speculative fiction for #ReadPalestine week, I got you: soniasulaiman.com/readpalestin...
Read Palestinian Speculative Fiction Reading List
The following is a growing reading list for the #ReadPalestinianSpecFic challenge. This is a work in progress to create a list of all available Palestinian speculative fiction. Novels: Novels by Na…
soniasulaiman.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
If you’re looking for Palestinian speculative fiction for #ReadPalestine week, I got you: soniasulaiman.com/readpalestin...
Reposted by Marie Francois
Ex-DEA agent who worked on the case against former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez calls his release "devastating":
“It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
“It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Former Honduras president, convicted of trafficking, freed on Trump pardon
A former DEA agent called the release “devastating”: “It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless.”
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Ex-DEA agent who worked on the case against former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez calls his release "devastating":
“It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
“It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Marie Francois
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Marie Francois
A new paper at the top AI conference shows that all the big AI models — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, the whole gang — collapse our ideas into the same narrow middle lane. Different models. Same answers. That’s not “assistive.” That’s a hive mind. No, really: The paper is entitled “Artificial Hive Mind:
December 4, 2025 at 2:38 AM
A new paper at the top AI conference shows that all the big AI models — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, the whole gang — collapse our ideas into the same narrow middle lane. Different models. Same answers. That’s not “assistive.” That’s a hive mind. No, really: The paper is entitled “Artificial Hive Mind:
Reposted by Marie Francois
In “weird shit that happened today”, an eagle (I know the difference; wasn’t a hawk) tried to eat our hens but the crows in the neighborhood chased it away. Team crow!
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 AM
In “weird shit that happened today”, an eagle (I know the difference; wasn’t a hawk) tried to eat our hens but the crows in the neighborhood chased it away. Team crow!
Reposted by Marie Francois
The Citizens United decision has corrupted our government and is destroying our democracy. Here's a way to get rid of it. robertreich.substack.com/p/how-to-get...
How to Get Rid of "Citizens United"
We can do away with it without a new Supreme Court. Nor do we need a constitutional amendment. There’s a far simpler way.
robertreich.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:34 PM
The Citizens United decision has corrupted our government and is destroying our democracy. Here's a way to get rid of it. robertreich.substack.com/p/how-to-get...
Reposted by Marie Francois
AI companies depend on psyching people out: on pretending that their brains don't matter, and that they can't make things or research things without slop machines.
They're wrong.
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
They're wrong.
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Basement adventures showed me why ChatGPT can only ever be garbage.
In The British Library. Photo by Surekha Davies. Hallo readers, First, a news flash: Join me for a virtual book launch for HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY...
buttondown.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
AI companies depend on psyching people out: on pretending that their brains don't matter, and that they can't make things or research things without slop machines.
They're wrong.
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
They're wrong.
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Reposted by Marie Francois
as the saying in Brazil goes
"If you steal a little, you're a thief;
if you steal a lot, you're a chief"
its clear to everyone in latin america that the drug war is nothing but a pretext for trump’s authoritarian crackdown at home & abroad
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
bsky.app/profile/noth...
"If you steal a little, you're a thief;
if you steal a lot, you're a chief"
its clear to everyone in latin america that the drug war is nothing but a pretext for trump’s authoritarian crackdown at home & abroad
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
bsky.app/profile/noth...
“Ah, just one more thing, sir. You’re blowing up those boats, saying they’re filled with drugs headed for the US. But then you go and pardon the guy who brought in 400 tons of cocaine. That’s billions of doses. Help me understand that.”
November 30, 2025 at 5:45 AM
as the saying in Brazil goes
"If you steal a little, you're a thief;
if you steal a lot, you're a chief"
its clear to everyone in latin america that the drug war is nothing but a pretext for trump’s authoritarian crackdown at home & abroad
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
bsky.app/profile/noth...
"If you steal a little, you're a thief;
if you steal a lot, you're a chief"
its clear to everyone in latin america that the drug war is nothing but a pretext for trump’s authoritarian crackdown at home & abroad
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
bsky.app/profile/noth...
Reposted by Marie Francois
Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of Armed Services, promises “rigorous oversight” after The Post reported Hegseth’s order to kill all 11 people in the first U.S. boat strike.
A former JAG who advised Special Ops called the scenario “murder” and “a war crime”
wapo.st/48k7g1S
A former JAG who advised Special Ops called the scenario “murder” and “a war crime”
wapo.st/48k7g1S
Senate committee vows ‘vigorous oversight’ in killing of boat strike survivors
The Republican-led committee’s pledge came after The Post reported that the defense secretary ordered that a U.S. strike on an alleged narcotics boat leave no survivors.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of Armed Services, promises “rigorous oversight” after The Post reported Hegseth’s order to kill all 11 people in the first U.S. boat strike.
A former JAG who advised Special Ops called the scenario “murder” and “a war crime”
wapo.st/48k7g1S
A former JAG who advised Special Ops called the scenario “murder” and “a war crime”
wapo.st/48k7g1S
Reposted by Marie Francois
Night Bird, 2020 Relief printing combined with charcoal, acrylic, gold leaf and hand stitching by US printmaker and mixed media artist Delita Martin #WomensArt
November 30, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Night Bird, 2020 Relief printing combined with charcoal, acrylic, gold leaf and hand stitching by US printmaker and mixed media artist Delita Martin #WomensArt
Reposted by Marie Francois
I think about this a lot.
November 30, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I think about this a lot.
Reposted by Marie Francois
👀 when it comes to "harassment" and student protest, northwestern has given the trump administration what appears to be a veto over changes in policy: "Northwestern shall not revise or modify these policies and procedures without the consent of the Assistant Attorney General".
horrible.
horrible.
You've heard of the Friday night news dump. Here's the Friday night of Thanksgiving wknd dump. For special circumstances, like when the faculty assembly votes 595-4 against paying to end a shakedown and you do it anyway. Link to agreement here: bulkmail.northwestern.edu/trk/click?re...
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
👀 when it comes to "harassment" and student protest, northwestern has given the trump administration what appears to be a veto over changes in policy: "Northwestern shall not revise or modify these policies and procedures without the consent of the Assistant Attorney General".
horrible.
horrible.
Reposted by Marie Francois
Donald Trump incited an insurrection on J6. He should never have been able to run for public office again. What a failure of justice to not hold this man accountable.
November 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Donald Trump incited an insurrection on J6. He should never have been able to run for public office again. What a failure of justice to not hold this man accountable.
Reposted by Marie Francois
Here's the problem with Frederick Douglass: Us.
Most of us never get past one of his autobiographies, usually the first & shortest, & his oration, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Yet his was one of the greatest prophetic voices the country has produced. The post below is a small example.
Most of us never get past one of his autobiographies, usually the first & shortest, & his oration, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Yet his was one of the greatest prophetic voices the country has produced. The post below is a small example.
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Here's the problem with Frederick Douglass: Us.
Most of us never get past one of his autobiographies, usually the first & shortest, & his oration, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Yet his was one of the greatest prophetic voices the country has produced. The post below is a small example.
Most of us never get past one of his autobiographies, usually the first & shortest, & his oration, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Yet his was one of the greatest prophetic voices the country has produced. The post below is a small example.
Reposted by Marie Francois
"Student ‘heartbroken’ after being sent to Honduras while trying to travel from Boston to Texas, attorney says"
College student deported when flying home for Thanksgiving, despite court order
Student ‘heartbroken’ after being sent to Honduras while trying to travel from Boston to Texas, attorney says
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:50 PM
"Student ‘heartbroken’ after being sent to Honduras while trying to travel from Boston to Texas, attorney says"
Reposted by Marie Francois
Look forward to Bari Weiss asking "has identity politics gone too far?" while studiously ignoring the most virulent identity politics driving American government
A reminder for those who are not aware: "remigration" is the process of deporting all non-white people from a country. It includes citizens and is, by definition, ethnic cleansing.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
November 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Look forward to Bari Weiss asking "has identity politics gone too far?" while studiously ignoring the most virulent identity politics driving American government
Reposted by Marie Francois
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
Reposted by Marie Francois
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Marie Francois
Hegseth is a cold-blooded murderer. There's no way to dress it up. He's a criminal. And his was precisely the kind of illegal order that those Dem members of Congress urged the military not to follow. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Hegseth is a cold-blooded murderer. There's no way to dress it up. He's a criminal. And his was precisely the kind of illegal order that those Dem members of Congress urged the military not to follow. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Marie Francois
Great stuff from the inimitable Rebecca Traister.
“Reports of patriarchy’s death have always been greatly exaggerated. But so, too, have reports of feminism’s.”
“Reports of patriarchy’s death have always been greatly exaggerated. But so, too, have reports of feminism’s.”
Wrote about the backlash to the backlash to the backlash to the backlash there are no waves we are swimming through circular currents and why we’re not on the Faludi style backlash of the right (& center and left’s) dreams: www.thecut.com/article/why-...
Me Too Forever
Why the backlash was so short-lived.
www.thecut.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Great stuff from the inimitable Rebecca Traister.
“Reports of patriarchy’s death have always been greatly exaggerated. But so, too, have reports of feminism’s.”
“Reports of patriarchy’s death have always been greatly exaggerated. But so, too, have reports of feminism’s.”
Reposted by Marie Francois
Kant's moral philosophy
November 27, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Kant's moral philosophy
Reposted by Marie Francois
A wife bids farewell to her husband, the kuhul ajaw of Pa’ Chan, on his way to war. It is lintel 26 of Yaxchilán, Chiapas, crafted in 724 AD. The protagonists are Lord Shield Jaguar II and his wife Lady Xoc, who hands him his flexible shield and a helmet or headdress in the shape of a jaguar head.
November 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A wife bids farewell to her husband, the kuhul ajaw of Pa’ Chan, on his way to war. It is lintel 26 of Yaxchilán, Chiapas, crafted in 724 AD. The protagonists are Lord Shield Jaguar II and his wife Lady Xoc, who hands him his flexible shield and a helmet or headdress in the shape of a jaguar head.
Reposted by Marie Francois
this is pretty solid spiritual advice tbh
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
this is pretty solid spiritual advice tbh
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
Reposted by Marie Francois
ICYMI AAUP is starting a PAC news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
Professors Launch PAC to Fight Back Against Trump’s Attacks
The American Association of University Professors, a union whose members are fighting policies from the Trump administration and GOP Congress, launched a PAC this week to spend in federal elections.
news.bgov.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:28 PM
ICYMI AAUP is starting a PAC news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
Reposted by Marie Francois
My book about the cotton and sugar revolutions in Louisiana. It begins with the crisis of the 1790s (related to the French and Haitian Revolutions) and ends with the German Coast Insurrection of 1811, probably the largest slave rebellion in the US.
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5665/
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5665/
Replanting a Slave Society
<div><p>Although it eventually became a regrettably profitable business for enslavers and their partners, a successful slave economy in the American S
www.upress.virginia.edu
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
My book about the cotton and sugar revolutions in Louisiana. It begins with the crisis of the 1790s (related to the French and Haitian Revolutions) and ends with the German Coast Insurrection of 1811, probably the largest slave rebellion in the US.
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5665/
www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5665/