Lois Weiner
@drloisweiner.bsky.social
Career teacher, education prof, teacher union activist. Researcher, writer, in the struggle for social justice, union democracy. Socialist. https://loisweiner.net/ and https://futureschools.substack.com/
The extent of this surveillance dwarfs what the FBI did during the war in Vietnam, when undercover agents logged reports about bakesales organized by pacifists.
EFF obtained datasets representing more than 12 million searches logged by more than 3,900 agencies between 2024 and 2025. The data shows that agencies logged hundreds of searches related to the 50501, Hands Off, and No Kings protests, among other protests in between. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
How Cops Are Using Flock Safety's ALPR Network to Surveil Protesters
Through an analysis of 10 months of nationwide searches on Flock Safety's servers, we discovered that more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national
www.eff.org
November 28, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The extent of this surveillance dwarfs what the FBI did during the war in Vietnam, when undercover agents logged reports about bakesales organized by pacifists.
New (to me), powerful arguments in this statement: "Age gating is by itself a weapon of coercion and ideological control that seeks to surveil people under the guise of protection and normalise the further consolidation of state and corporate power over our ‘everyday’." Thanks @eff.org for sharing.
We’d like to thank the Manushya Foundation for issuing this awesome statement against age-gating: www.manushyafoundation.org/manushya-s-....
Manushya’s statement on Age gating | Manushya Foundation
www.manushyafoundation.org
November 28, 2025 at 1:34 AM
New (to me), powerful arguments in this statement: "Age gating is by itself a weapon of coercion and ideological control that seeks to surveil people under the guise of protection and normalise the further consolidation of state and corporate power over our ‘everyday’." Thanks @eff.org for sharing.
Reposted by Lois Weiner
There is talk going around that DHS is now arresting people who fly *domestically* if they have final orders of removal.
Undocumented youth should consider consulting a lawyer to find out what their record is -- especially those whose parents had prior interactions with immigration.
Undocumented youth should consider consulting a lawyer to find out what their record is -- especially those whose parents had prior interactions with immigration.
I feel much safer today knowing that we deported a Babson College student back to a country where she hasn't lived since childhood.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
A Babson College student wanted to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She was deported instead. - The Boston Globe
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was at Logan to catch a flight to Texas when immigration authorities detained her as she was about to board the plane.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
There is talk going around that DHS is now arresting people who fly *domestically* if they have final orders of removal.
Undocumented youth should consider consulting a lawyer to find out what their record is -- especially those whose parents had prior interactions with immigration.
Undocumented youth should consider consulting a lawyer to find out what their record is -- especially those whose parents had prior interactions with immigration.
Thanksgiving is for me a day to enjoy food with loved companion(s) and for contemplation. Off to make the pie! But first sharing an article, which invited thought, about democracy, labor, social movements in this moment. Unpaid ad and wishes for a restorative day: tempestmag.org/2025/11/we-n...
We need socialism to save democracy
Throughout history, democracy has always come from below, as the exploited and oppressed have entered the fray and demanded it.
tempestmag.org
November 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Thanksgiving is for me a day to enjoy food with loved companion(s) and for contemplation. Off to make the pie! But first sharing an article, which invited thought, about democracy, labor, social movements in this moment. Unpaid ad and wishes for a restorative day: tempestmag.org/2025/11/we-n...
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Help us send 2,000 books to readers who are incarcerated this winter through our Books Not Bars program
Books Not Bars 2025 Holiday Campaign
BOOKS NOT BARS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Haymarket Books is committed to making our books available for free to people who are incarcerated.
In an effort to support those inside who are dealing with the imm...
haymarketbooks.app.neoncrm.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Help us send 2,000 books to readers who are incarcerated this winter through our Books Not Bars program
No wonder authoritarians hate libraries and librarians. BFFs of democracy!
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
No wonder authoritarians hate libraries and librarians. BFFs of democracy!
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Where I work, grad student enrollment in Engineering and Business is down 70% and 40%, respectively.
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Enrollment by international students from China dropped by 3 percent, from India by 4 percent, and enrollment from students from Mexico has flatlined. Here are the likely consequences for Texas' education and economy:
The High Cost of Targeting International Students in Texas
The Trump administration’s bans and airport detentions are derailing the academic dreams of students who carry out important research—and sometimes pay hefty tuition—to attend Texas institutions.
www.texasobserver.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Where I work, grad student enrollment in Engineering and Business is down 70% and 40%, respectively.
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Story captures the importance of using the courts and understanding strategy's limitation. SCOTUS can always get the final vote.
This month, federal troops were deployed to Democratic-led cities throughout North Carolina, even as a federal judge ruled the administration’s 30-day takeover of Washington, D.C., this summer was unlawful. https://capitalbnews.org/trump-national-guard-city-updates/
A City-by-City Breakdown of Trump’s Immigration Raids and Troop Deployments
The Trump administration has deployed federal troops into at least nine cities, and there are no signs of a slowdown.
capitalbnews.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Story captures the importance of using the courts and understanding strategy's limitation. SCOTUS can always get the final vote.
ICYMI: Racism and AI. Talking evidence and truth. m.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtc...
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
m.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
ICYMI: Racism and AI. Talking evidence and truth. m.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtc...
In print Bari Weiss is frustratingly pseudo-intellectual. Limited and primitive. On video she's just embarrassing. As they said in vaudeville, get the hook!
The new editor of CBS News thinks that Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch debating the 2nd Amendment is “news.”
So, pour one out tonight for the actual journalists at CBS who have to listen to this drivel in the am news meeting
(She also says Dersh is “charismatic,” but that’s the lesser horror)
1/2
So, pour one out tonight for the actual journalists at CBS who have to listen to this drivel in the am news meeting
(She also says Dersh is “charismatic,” but that’s the lesser horror)
1/2
November 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
In print Bari Weiss is frustratingly pseudo-intellectual. Limited and primitive. On video she's just embarrassing. As they said in vaudeville, get the hook!
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Also weird how opponents of the Mamdani plan have never heard of the Circulators in DC and Baltimore.
Buses have been free in Tucson for years now. City check: still standing.
Well, well, well, imagine this:
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Also weird how opponents of the Mamdani plan have never heard of the Circulators in DC and Baltimore.
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Earlier this month, lawsuits brought against OpenAI suggested the potential of ChatGPT to cause serious mental health harms in users.
In light of these cases, the Cal State U system must not continue providing ChatGPT to students.
My opinion essay in @insidehighered.com today
In light of these cases, the Cal State U system must not continue providing ChatGPT to students.
My opinion essay in @insidehighered.com today
November 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Earlier this month, lawsuits brought against OpenAI suggested the potential of ChatGPT to cause serious mental health harms in users.
In light of these cases, the Cal State U system must not continue providing ChatGPT to students.
My opinion essay in @insidehighered.com today
In light of these cases, the Cal State U system must not continue providing ChatGPT to students.
My opinion essay in @insidehighered.com today
File under "You can't make this stuff up."
November 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
File under "You can't make this stuff up."
Reposted by Lois Weiner
HPV Vaccination Tied to Huge Reduction in Cervical Cancer Risk www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyon...
HPV Vaccination Tied to Huge Reduction in Cervical Cancer Risk
Two large meta-analyses reassure on safety, efficacy
www.medpagetoday.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
HPV Vaccination Tied to Huge Reduction in Cervical Cancer Risk www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyon...
If you're doing research on neoliberal money in US education, who's spending it on what and why, please share your work! Includes but not limited to charter schools, public private partnerships, tech (surveillance, testing), and of course AI.
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
If you're doing research on neoliberal money in US education, who's spending it on what and why, please share your work! Includes but not limited to charter schools, public private partnerships, tech (surveillance, testing), and of course AI.
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Friends, it's time to beat my #TaxTheRich drum again.
As Zohran showed yesterday, he knows how to charm. To pass his agenda, he'll need to charm Governor Hochul as well.
OUR approach to Hochul, however, must be different: big, loud, and unyielding.
Join us in the field on Dec 13.
taxtherichny.com
As Zohran showed yesterday, he knows how to charm. To pass his agenda, he'll need to charm Governor Hochul as well.
OUR approach to Hochul, however, must be different: big, loud, and unyielding.
Join us in the field on Dec 13.
taxtherichny.com
Tax The Rich - New York - Home
Together, we can Tax the Rich in New York State and create a better future for everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy. Join our movement.
taxtherichny.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Friends, it's time to beat my #TaxTheRich drum again.
As Zohran showed yesterday, he knows how to charm. To pass his agenda, he'll need to charm Governor Hochul as well.
OUR approach to Hochul, however, must be different: big, loud, and unyielding.
Join us in the field on Dec 13.
taxtherichny.com
As Zohran showed yesterday, he knows how to charm. To pass his agenda, he'll need to charm Governor Hochul as well.
OUR approach to Hochul, however, must be different: big, loud, and unyielding.
Join us in the field on Dec 13.
taxtherichny.com
Excellent resource, as well as info in the replies.
You think LLM-based chatbots can help students learn? Think again.
Take a few minutes to listen to Dr. @drtanksley.bsky.social clear explanation why this is very bad, harmful idea, especially for Black students.
#Critical_AI_Literacy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtc...
Take a few minutes to listen to Dr. @drtanksley.bsky.social clear explanation why this is very bad, harmful idea, especially for Black students.
#Critical_AI_Literacy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtc...
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Excellent resource, as well as info in the replies.
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Finally something on this argument current and future school teachers keep throwing at me - no, underserved groups are not currently or ever going to benefit from LLMs.
They love to say it's a way to help underserved groups of children too. Extra scary.
Forbes, S. H. & Guest, O. (2025). To Improve Literacy, Improve Equality in Education, Not Large Language Models. Cognitive Science. doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
PDF: philpapers.org/archive/FORT...
Forbes, S. H. & Guest, O. (2025). To Improve Literacy, Improve Equality in Education, Not Large Language Models. Cognitive Science. doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
PDF: philpapers.org/archive/FORT...
To Improve Literacy, Improve Equality in Education, Not Large Language Models
Huettig and Christiansen in an earlier issue argue that large language models (LLMs) are beneficial to address declining cognitive skills, such as literacy, through combating imbalances in educationa....
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Finally something on this argument current and future school teachers keep throwing at me - no, underserved groups are not currently or ever going to benefit from LLMs.
Note the new "Connections to productivity tools like Canva, Google Drive, and Microsoft 365" (aka ways to collect data, privatize and control education) and so much more that's terrible in OpenAI's free ChatGPT for teachers: thejournal.com/articles/202...
OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT for Teachers -- THE Journal
OpenAI has introduced a free version of ChatGPT for teachers, aimed at providing a secure workspace to adapt classroom materials, streamline prep, collaborate with peers, and more.
thejournal.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Note the new "Connections to productivity tools like Canva, Google Drive, and Microsoft 365" (aka ways to collect data, privatize and control education) and so much more that's terrible in OpenAI's free ChatGPT for teachers: thejournal.com/articles/202...
You can sign the open letter here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
November 23, 2025 at 12:49 AM
You can sign the open letter here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Reposted by Lois Weiner
All wound up and ready for week 2 of our national ULP strike‼️ While we’re fighting for better pay, better staffing and an end to union- busting, we’re asking everyone NOT TO BUY STARBUCKS products anywhere until our strike is resolved! Visit nocontractnocoffee.org for info✊
November 22, 2025 at 9:26 PM
All wound up and ready for week 2 of our national ULP strike‼️ While we’re fighting for better pay, better staffing and an end to union- busting, we’re asking everyone NOT TO BUY STARBUCKS products anywhere until our strike is resolved! Visit nocontractnocoffee.org for info✊
Reposted by Lois Weiner
Oh wait! Figured out how to get rid of the garbage Gemini button in Chrome:
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
November 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Oh wait! Figured out how to get rid of the garbage Gemini button in Chrome:
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
Delighted every time the @aflcio.org reminds us to "buy union" and tells us how. It's our answer to MAGA/GOP "buy American," which encourages a race to the bottom.
Set your table with union-made products this Thanksgiving! 🦃
Buying union-made this Thanksgiving season supports dignified jobs that offer workers good wages, healthcare, and a voice on the job. ✊
View more union-made products: aflcio.org/union-thanksgiving
#WeAreCTA #Solidarity
Buying union-made this Thanksgiving season supports dignified jobs that offer workers good wages, healthcare, and a voice on the job. ✊
View more union-made products: aflcio.org/union-thanksgiving
#WeAreCTA #Solidarity
November 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Delighted every time the @aflcio.org reminds us to "buy union" and tells us how. It's our answer to MAGA/GOP "buy American," which encourages a race to the bottom.
Horrifying! But faculty are standing up: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Federal Suit Seeking Names of Some Jewish Employees at Penn Sparks Backlash
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Horrifying! But faculty are standing up: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...