Zeb Larson
@zeblarson.bsky.social
Freelance writer with a PhD in history. Ex-academic; studied the anti-apartheid movement. Emeritus adjunct. Became a software engineer in 2020. Words in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian, Jacobin, BBC.
He/Him
zeb-larson.com
He/Him
zeb-larson.com
Pinned
Who Is Really Running the Oval Office? - Dame Magazine
Donald Trump has never been a leader who is particularly concerned with details or even specific issues day-to-day. In 2016, he allegedly offered control of both domestic and foreign policy to former ...
www.damemagazine.com
My latest piece for @damemagazine.bsky.social on the Trump shadow presidency, what happens as autocrats grow old and infirm, and what it means for the rest of us.
At one point in the negotiation process tonight, United completely scrapped my ticket, and seated my wife and kid in completely different rows. He’s a toddler. In a car seat.
December 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
At one point in the negotiation process tonight, United completely scrapped my ticket, and seated my wife and kid in completely different rows. He’s a toddler. In a car seat.
I’m currently on track to arrive in Columbus at 2:15 AM which is eight hours from now, including the the time change. I’ve had maybe four hours of sleep. I’m going to need more coffee.
November 30, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I’m currently on track to arrive in Columbus at 2:15 AM which is eight hours from now, including the the time change. I’ve had maybe four hours of sleep. I’m going to need more coffee.
Since Republicans just invent issues, Democrats should give it a try. Go after Sean Duffy, talk ceaselessly about how fucking shitty air travel is. Yes, the airline industry sucked before; no matter. Just force them to own how godawful air travel is.
November 30, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Since Republicans just invent issues, Democrats should give it a try. Go after Sean Duffy, talk ceaselessly about how fucking shitty air travel is. Yes, the airline industry sucked before; no matter. Just force them to own how godawful air travel is.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
This is what they took from you.
[picture of an abandoned Quizno’s in southern Illinois]
[picture of an abandoned Quizno’s in southern Illinois]
November 30, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This is what they took from you.
[picture of an abandoned Quizno’s in southern Illinois]
[picture of an abandoned Quizno’s in southern Illinois]
Reposted by Zeb Larson
As we end Native American Heritage month in the “U.S”, we are pleased to share, "Resistant Communiqués: Indigenous Geographies and A More Just Future with Dr. @niiyokamigaabaw.bsky.social". It comes at a particularly critical time for Indigenous communities globally.
🎧 Listen: bit.ly/rc2025ndsmiles
🎧 Listen: bit.ly/rc2025ndsmiles
"Resistant Communiqués: Indigenous Geographies and A More Just Future with Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles"
Resistant Communiqués Podcast, S1, E6
bit.ly
November 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
As we end Native American Heritage month in the “U.S”, we are pleased to share, "Resistant Communiqués: Indigenous Geographies and A More Just Future with Dr. @niiyokamigaabaw.bsky.social". It comes at a particularly critical time for Indigenous communities globally.
🎧 Listen: bit.ly/rc2025ndsmiles
🎧 Listen: bit.ly/rc2025ndsmiles
Post your favorite character from “Lord of the Rings.” Wrong answers only.
November 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Post your favorite character from “Lord of the Rings.” Wrong answers only.
Apart from the fact that her discussion of the original Hebrew either came straight from a religious website or generative AI, at least we can be confident this wasn’t plagiarized: it’s way too incoherent.
Turning Point at OU posted this girl's essay in full and man is it rough
November 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Apart from the fact that her discussion of the original Hebrew either came straight from a religious website or generative AI, at least we can be confident this wasn’t plagiarized: it’s way too incoherent.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
Want to support our work at Bolts? The NewsMatch program is multiplying all new monthly subscriptions by 12 right now.
For instance: Sign up to be a $5 monthly donor today and you'll unlock $60 in matching funds!
For instance: Sign up to be a $5 monthly donor today and you'll unlock $60 in matching funds!
Support Bolts
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boltsmag.org
November 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Want to support our work at Bolts? The NewsMatch program is multiplying all new monthly subscriptions by 12 right now.
For instance: Sign up to be a $5 monthly donor today and you'll unlock $60 in matching funds!
For instance: Sign up to be a $5 monthly donor today and you'll unlock $60 in matching funds!
Reposted by Zeb Larson
I VERY much dislike using SM for self-promotion, but…
My new book is THE PRICE OF PLENTY: A HISTORY OF MEAT IN AMERICA.
A lengthy excerpt is available at Maureenogle.com
Buy at bookshop.org, B&N, Kobo, Amazon
Pass it along…..?
My new book is THE PRICE OF PLENTY: A HISTORY OF MEAT IN AMERICA.
A lengthy excerpt is available at Maureenogle.com
Buy at bookshop.org, B&N, Kobo, Amazon
Pass it along…..?
Maureen Ogle
Maureen Ogle. Historian. Author. Ranter. Idea Junkie. Books include: AMBITIOUS BREW: A History of American Beer; KEY WEST: History of An Island Of Dreams.
Maureenogle.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I VERY much dislike using SM for self-promotion, but…
My new book is THE PRICE OF PLENTY: A HISTORY OF MEAT IN AMERICA.
A lengthy excerpt is available at Maureenogle.com
Buy at bookshop.org, B&N, Kobo, Amazon
Pass it along…..?
My new book is THE PRICE OF PLENTY: A HISTORY OF MEAT IN AMERICA.
A lengthy excerpt is available at Maureenogle.com
Buy at bookshop.org, B&N, Kobo, Amazon
Pass it along…..?
This is a drum I’ve been trying to beat (and get into an essay), but writing is as much about thought process as output, and writing code isn’t actually any different. Exporting that part of the process to a machine is just going to lead to spaghettified code and unmaintainable code bases.
When I see LLMs pitched as a guaranteed productivity tool for software engineering, the is the counterweight I keep trying to get people to seriously engage with and not handwave away is the future cost, and “oh everything tech gets cheaper” isn’t an answer. Services don’t and LLMs are a service.
November 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This is a drum I’ve been trying to beat (and get into an essay), but writing is as much about thought process as output, and writing code isn’t actually any different. Exporting that part of the process to a machine is just going to lead to spaghettified code and unmaintainable code bases.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
When I see LLMs pitched as a guaranteed productivity tool for software engineering, the is the counterweight I keep trying to get people to seriously engage with and not handwave away is the future cost, and “oh everything tech gets cheaper” isn’t an answer. Services don’t and LLMs are a service.
November 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
When I see LLMs pitched as a guaranteed productivity tool for software engineering, the is the counterweight I keep trying to get people to seriously engage with and not handwave away is the future cost, and “oh everything tech gets cheaper” isn’t an answer. Services don’t and LLMs are a service.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
I wonder if this rescue op was a response to someone in the military refusing another “murder the survivors” order.
November 29, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I wonder if this rescue op was a response to someone in the military refusing another “murder the survivors” order.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
Not Thanksgiving ... is my annual-ish tradition ... as described herein ...
www.bonappetit.com/story/friend...
www.bonappetit.com/story/friend...
My Friendsgiving Isn't a Trend. It's a Lifeline.
Believe me when I say I tried for years to go home. Believe me, I wanted to be like everybody else.
www.bonappetit.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Not Thanksgiving ... is my annual-ish tradition ... as described herein ...
www.bonappetit.com/story/friend...
www.bonappetit.com/story/friend...
Reposted by Zeb Larson
I mean really. Each and everyone of the Trump appointees is a joke. No reputable scientist or clinician would spread such drivel.
While Makary spreads bullshit about the origin of HIV.
(To be clear, this has been thoroughly investigated and fits neither the timing nor the molecular epidemiology of HIV).
(To be clear, this has been thoroughly investigated and fits neither the timing nor the molecular epidemiology of HIV).
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I mean really. Each and everyone of the Trump appointees is a joke. No reputable scientist or clinician would spread such drivel.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
Noah Smith's assertions here lie in the assumption that Indigenous nations are not truly nations, but rather, 'racial groups'. This is neither true nor demonstrates a complete understanding of Indigenous nationhood.
www.thefp.com/p/no-you-are...
www.thefp.com/p/no-you-are...
No, You Are Not on Indigenous Land
No, you are not on Indigenous land, argues Noah Smith. Pieces of territory belong to institutions, not to racial groups.
www.thefp.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Noah Smith's assertions here lie in the assumption that Indigenous nations are not truly nations, but rather, 'racial groups'. This is neither true nor demonstrates a complete understanding of Indigenous nationhood.
www.thefp.com/p/no-you-are...
www.thefp.com/p/no-you-are...
Reposted by Zeb Larson
also it is WILD to me how much Irish, Slavic, Greek, Italian, and other peoples lost in attempting to get people in these Northern/Western European groups to accept them as white, particularly more collective forms of care and more emotionally open forms of expression
November 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
also it is WILD to me how much Irish, Slavic, Greek, Italian, and other peoples lost in attempting to get people in these Northern/Western European groups to accept them as white, particularly more collective forms of care and more emotionally open forms of expression
This a cornerstone in my defense of the Yugo. You could have a well-made cheap car, but you’d have to not give a shit about it as a status symbol.
bring back respectable middle-class financial values (not blowing $100k plus $50k interest on a depreciating asset)
November 27, 2025 at 10:50 PM
This a cornerstone in my defense of the Yugo. You could have a well-made cheap car, but you’d have to not give a shit about it as a status symbol.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
It was great fun to make this animation for NiCHE! They were my first environmental history community back in my U of T days and it was a delight and privilege to return their kindness with a nifty map. #envhist #envhum #gischat #cdnhist #histgeog
Today our editor, @micaamy.bsky.social, unveils a map made by Geoffrey Wallace that visualizes the geography of NiCHE blog posts going back to 2004.
"Animating the Archive: The Geography of NiCHE Posts since 2004"
niche-canada.org/2025/11/27/a...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist #histgeog
"Animating the Archive: The Geography of NiCHE Posts since 2004"
niche-canada.org/2025/11/27/a...
#envhist #envhum #cdnhist #histgeog
Animating the Archive: The Geography of NiCHE Posts since 2004
While NiCHE began as a Canadian environmental history network, its subject matter has always been situated in an international context, fostering conversations and collaborations across borders.
niche-canada.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Zeb Larson
I quit a project last week. What I was initially told was that I would be editing lesson plans; what I learned was that ChatGPT would write the content and I would structure the lesson plan (“do this activity here,” “share with a peer”, etc) and fact check it.
November 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I quit a project last week. What I was initially told was that I would be editing lesson plans; what I learned was that ChatGPT would write the content and I would structure the lesson plan (“do this activity here,” “share with a peer”, etc) and fact check it.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
Dr. @emanabdelhadi.bsky.social examines what it means to be living through the 3rd Red Scare; how the scale, combined with digital surveillance, makes for a politically perilous time. The assaults on the left highlight how at-risk everybody is in this political climate.
🎧: bit.ly/rc2025eabdelhadi
🎧: bit.ly/rc2025eabdelhadi
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Dr. @emanabdelhadi.bsky.social examines what it means to be living through the 3rd Red Scare; how the scale, combined with digital surveillance, makes for a politically perilous time. The assaults on the left highlight how at-risk everybody is in this political climate.
🎧: bit.ly/rc2025eabdelhadi
🎧: bit.ly/rc2025eabdelhadi
I quit a project last week. What I was initially told was that I would be editing lesson plans; what I learned was that ChatGPT would write the content and I would structure the lesson plan (“do this activity here,” “share with a peer”, etc) and fact check it.
November 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I quit a project last week. What I was initially told was that I would be editing lesson plans; what I learned was that ChatGPT would write the content and I would structure the lesson plan (“do this activity here,” “share with a peer”, etc) and fact check it.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
"We should not give our children, whose brains are vulnerable and malleable, books created by computers. We shouldn’t give them books created carelessly."
AI is coming for your toddler's bedtime story
Artificial intelligence poses an increasingly real threat to children’s literature—and children’s learning.
www.motherjones.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"We should not give our children, whose brains are vulnerable and malleable, books created by computers. We shouldn’t give them books created carelessly."
Two things are true.
A: journalism is not a monolith, lots of journalists are continuing to do principled work and do not carry water for fascism, don’t burn down the whole industry over Nuzzi.
B: she’s absolutely emblematic of the problems with elite and access journalism.
A: journalism is not a monolith, lots of journalists are continuing to do principled work and do not carry water for fascism, don’t burn down the whole industry over Nuzzi.
B: she’s absolutely emblematic of the problems with elite and access journalism.
you know, what if they aren't actually a commentary on journalism or the state of media. what if these people are just extremely weird
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Two things are true.
A: journalism is not a monolith, lots of journalists are continuing to do principled work and do not carry water for fascism, don’t burn down the whole industry over Nuzzi.
B: she’s absolutely emblematic of the problems with elite and access journalism.
A: journalism is not a monolith, lots of journalists are continuing to do principled work and do not carry water for fascism, don’t burn down the whole industry over Nuzzi.
B: she’s absolutely emblematic of the problems with elite and access journalism.
Reposted by Zeb Larson
another Lizza article is circulating, which reminds me to tap the sign reminding you to please support independent, worker-run, billionaire and felch-free news outlets when and how you can. if you can spare some $, here's some w/NewsMatch, which will 2x your donation through the end of the year!
Through December 31, we’re participating in a program called NewsMatch, which doubles donations to small nonprofit newsrooms like ours. Subscriptions and one-time gifts are all eligible to be doubled! Support today:
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November 27, 2025 at 3:16 AM
another Lizza article is circulating, which reminds me to tap the sign reminding you to please support independent, worker-run, billionaire and felch-free news outlets when and how you can. if you can spare some $, here's some w/NewsMatch, which will 2x your donation through the end of the year!