David J. Voelker
@david-j-voelker.bsky.social
Historian (early America/environment), in Green Bay, WI, since 2003. Author and co-editor for Oxford Univ. Press's *Debating American History* series. Views are mine. Website: https://davidjvoelker.com. Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3049-4799
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by David J. Voelker
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by David J. Voelker
“Trump’s family has deals to build luxury resorts and hotels in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. And their crypto firm will be used by the UAE to make a $2B deal— netting the Trumps hundreds of millions of dollars. His ‘diplomatic trips’ are blatant self-enrichment opportunities.” @rbreich.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
“Trump’s family has deals to build luxury resorts and hotels in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. And their crypto firm will be used by the UAE to make a $2B deal— netting the Trumps hundreds of millions of dollars. His ‘diplomatic trips’ are blatant self-enrichment opportunities.” @rbreich.bsky.social
Reposted by David J. Voelker
I hate the phrase “challenge scientific orthodoxy.” It’s not a religious “orthodoxy” that vaccines have no connection to autism. It is a fact, established by lines of evidence that independently all demonstrate the same phenomenon.
Why are New York Times headlines like this?
Why are New York Times headlines like this?
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I hate the phrase “challenge scientific orthodoxy.” It’s not a religious “orthodoxy” that vaccines have no connection to autism. It is a fact, established by lines of evidence that independently all demonstrate the same phenomenon.
Why are New York Times headlines like this?
Why are New York Times headlines like this?
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Today, we honor and remember the lives of trans folks who have been killed this year.
We must continue our work to ensure every Wisconsinite can be their full and best self without fear of hate or violence.
We must continue our work to ensure every Wisconsinite can be their full and best self without fear of hate or violence.
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Today, we honor and remember the lives of trans folks who have been killed this year.
We must continue our work to ensure every Wisconsinite can be their full and best self without fear of hate or violence.
We must continue our work to ensure every Wisconsinite can be their full and best self without fear of hate or violence.
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Long continued applause for democracy
Report of the Gettysburg Address of 11/19/1863 in The Liberator. Note the applause.
www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
![President Lincoln then delivered the following ded
icatory speech
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought
forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in
liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal. [Applause.] Now we are engaged
in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or
any other nation so conceived and so dedicated can
long endure. We are met on a great battle field of
that war; we are met to dedicate a portion of that
field as the final resting-place of those who here gave
their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether
fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a
larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate,
we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it
far above our poor power to add or to detract. [Applause.] The world will little note nor long remem
ber what we may say here; but it can never forget
what they did here. [Applause.]
It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work that they have thus far so no
bly carried on. [Applause.] It is rather for us here
to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last
full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve
that those dead shall not have died in vain. [Applause.] That the nation shall, under God, have a
new birth of freedom; and that governments of the
people, by the people and for the people, shall not per
ish from the earth.” [Long continued applause.]
Three cheers were here given for the President and
the Governors of the States.
After the delivery of this address, a dirge and the
benediction closed the exercises, and the immense as
semblage separated about 2 o'clock.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kok4aqdr3qnsj6ktfkq76kqz/bafkreifmymlb3mtcbdzsjakrupazwn33x7zhduhvofhbwdu5efdwtnd4b4@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Long continued applause for democracy
Reposted by David J. Voelker
So I'm speaking at this event and the lunch sign is more ambiguous than it should be
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
So I'm speaking at this event and the lunch sign is more ambiguous than it should be
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Listen.
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 17, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Listen.
"It is simply history for grown-ups, which assumes that people can accept both that the revolution was a triumph for the idea of liberty and that the revolutionaries who fought it didn’t live up entirely to their beautiful words." [email protected] www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/a...
What ‘The American Revolution’ Says About Our Cultural Battles
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:41 PM
"It is simply history for grown-ups, which assumes that people can accept both that the revolution was a triumph for the idea of liberty and that the revolutionaries who fought it didn’t live up entirely to their beautiful words." [email protected] www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/a...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Whether it’s Barack Obama, appearing in a tan suit or Donald Trump appearing 1700 times in Jeffrey Epstein‘s emails, both presidents made some highly controversial appearances.
November 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Whether it’s Barack Obama, appearing in a tan suit or Donald Trump appearing 1700 times in Jeffrey Epstein‘s emails, both presidents made some highly controversial appearances.
If you are looking for an effective way to contribute to Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica, CARE gets a score of 95% from Charity Navigator. www.care.org/our-work/whe...
CARE's Humanitarian Work in Jamaica - CARE
How does CARE help in Jamaica? CARE works with partners to help communities dealing with landslides, flooding, and hurricane relief.
www.care.org
November 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
If you are looking for an effective way to contribute to Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica, CARE gets a score of 95% from Charity Navigator. www.care.org/our-work/whe...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
"Sure, our plagiarism machine ingests enormous amounts of copyrighted material without anyone's permission, but it's the users of the machine who are the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 criminals, your honor." 🙄🙄
Just unbelievable levels of chutzpah.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Just unbelievable levels of chutzpah.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
November 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM
"Sure, our plagiarism machine ingests enormous amounts of copyrighted material without anyone's permission, but it's the users of the machine who are the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 criminals, your honor." 🙄🙄
Just unbelievable levels of chutzpah.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Just unbelievable levels of chutzpah.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
If you have to get permission to teach in your area of expertise from people who are definitionally not qualified to adjudicate your expertise then you are no longer working at a university.
You’re working at a state propaganda factory.
You’re working at a state propaganda factory.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M adopts policy requiring professors to get OK from school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
November 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
If you have to get permission to teach in your area of expertise from people who are definitionally not qualified to adjudicate your expertise then you are no longer working at a university.
You’re working at a state propaganda factory.
You’re working at a state propaganda factory.
"Acting just like a corrupt king, Trump is transforming the American system of justice into his personal plaything. Friends of the crown break the law with impunity. Enemies of the crown experience the sharp end of the law, ..." -- @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Opinion | One of the Founders’ Worst Fears Has Been Realized
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 PM
"Acting just like a corrupt king, Trump is transforming the American system of justice into his personal plaything. Friends of the crown break the law with impunity. Enemies of the crown experience the sharp end of the law, ..." -- @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Never forget: At breakneck speed we are leaving the stable Holocene climate in which human society developed and thrived. Weather extremes are outside historical experience. Sea-level rise is accelerating. Dangerous tipping points are ahead.
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Never forget: At breakneck speed we are leaving the stable Holocene climate in which human society developed and thrived. Weather extremes are outside historical experience. Sea-level rise is accelerating. Dangerous tipping points are ahead.
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Graph: ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Reposted by David J. Voelker
ICYMI: I sent a letter to our congressional delegation, urging Republicans to stand up for Wisconsin and stand up to the Trump Administration as they try to yank newly restored SNAP payments from 700,000 hungry kids, families, and seniors across our state.
Read my letter ⬇️
Read my letter ⬇️
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
ICYMI: I sent a letter to our congressional delegation, urging Republicans to stand up for Wisconsin and stand up to the Trump Administration as they try to yank newly restored SNAP payments from 700,000 hungry kids, families, and seniors across our state.
Read my letter ⬇️
Read my letter ⬇️
"This slaughter could potentially be stopped if those with leverage would apply pressure on the United Arab Emirates, the primary backer of the Rapid Support Forces’ war machine." -- Those w/ leverage include Trump, the NBA, & Disney. #Sudan www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/o...
Opinion | Sudan Is in Free Fall
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"This slaughter could potentially be stopped if those with leverage would apply pressure on the United Arab Emirates, the primary backer of the Rapid Support Forces’ war machine." -- Those w/ leverage include Trump, the NBA, & Disney. #Sudan www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/o...
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Consistent with a court order, Wisconsin legally loaded FoodShare payments to cards. Now, the Trump Administration has spent the last 48 hours making a last-ditch effort to yank those payments from nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including 270,000 kids. It's pathetic.
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Consistent with a court order, Wisconsin legally loaded FoodShare payments to cards. Now, the Trump Administration has spent the last 48 hours making a last-ditch effort to yank those payments from nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including 270,000 kids. It's pathetic.
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Last night, the Trump Administration sent a letter suggesting Wisconsin should return our FoodShare payments.
My response ⬇️
My response ⬇️
Reposted by David J. Voelker
Something about that hyphen between 1776 and 2026 makes it read like birth and death dates.
Unintentional but perhaps appropriate!
Unintentional but perhaps appropriate!
A Two-Headed Coin That Always Comes Up ‘Trump’
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Something about that hyphen between 1776 and 2026 makes it read like birth and death dates.
Unintentional but perhaps appropriate!
Unintentional but perhaps appropriate!
I just gave several college dozen students the option of using AI to help w/ an assignment, and the vast majority took the "human-crafted" option. In reflections, they expressed skepticism and a wide range of concerns (environmental, social, & economic) about using AI for writing. @uwgb @LLM
This. Especially because I believe that writing is thinking (for me). I don’t want to lose that.
What people do not do, they often lose the ability to do. Which is sometimes fine! In my own life, I don’t have any great need to know how to do some of the math I once learned. But I don’t want to forget how to write.
November 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I just gave several college dozen students the option of using AI to help w/ an assignment, and the vast majority took the "human-crafted" option. In reflections, they expressed skepticism and a wide range of concerns (environmental, social, & economic) about using AI for writing. @uwgb @LLM
Reposted by David J. Voelker
This. Especially because I believe that writing is thinking (for me). I don’t want to lose that.
What people do not do, they often lose the ability to do. Which is sometimes fine! In my own life, I don’t have any great need to know how to do some of the math I once learned. But I don’t want to forget how to write.
November 8, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This. Especially because I believe that writing is thinking (for me). I don’t want to lose that.
Reposted by David J. Voelker
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference