Mary Leighton
@maryleighton.bsky.social
Therapist based in Chicago. Former Socio-cultural Anthropologist & STS scholar. Hosted the "What Democracy Looks Like In..." podcast.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
Reposted by Mary Leighton
tfw when you want to have fun and chant too but you can’t because you’re at work
February 5, 2026 at 4:30 AM
tfw when you want to have fun and chant too but you can’t because you’re at work
Reposted by Mary Leighton
So nice of The Times to make sure we finally get the other side of the story.
![The parable of the Nazi Bar, a screenshot of a series of tweets by Michael Tager (in a screenshot from Google Images).
It's a long text and I'm not going to transcribe it here, but this Wiktionary explains it link and full Wiktionary definition below):
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nazi_bar
Popularized by an anecdote shared by Michael B. Tager (@IamRageSparkle) on Twitter in July 2020. Tager recounted visiting a "shitty crustpunk bar" where he saw a patron abruptly expelled: the bartender explained that the man was wearing "iron crosses and stuff", and that he feared such patrons would become regulars and start bringing friends if not promptly kicked out, which would lead him to realize "oh shit, this is a Nazi bar now" only after the unwanted patrons became too "entrenched" to kick out without trouble.[1][2] (Instances of people noting that if a bar starts serving Nazis other customers stop going and it becomes a Nazi bar are older.)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xfrwohjwxmkytdzadc4lqqy6/bafkreiefmg6zucjna7se4szf7ykihyrej4gzgjujgeicnraj3h4duqpl7i@jpeg)
January 27, 2026 at 12:37 PM
So nice of The Times to make sure we finally get the other side of the story.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
"In St. Paul, at least one-fourth of students from Spanish-speaking homes have missed every day of school since Dec. 12."
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota • Minnesota Reformer
Frank has a hard time explaining to his 8-year-old daughter why they rarely leave their home in the Twin Cities. Why she can’t go to school, and why he can’t work. “The only thing we tell her is that ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:42 PM
"In St. Paul, at least one-fourth of students from Spanish-speaking homes have missed every day of school since Dec. 12."
Reposted by Mary Leighton
I'm not one for false optimism. But what I witnessed today in Minneapolis was tremendous, both in scale and exuberance. It was a stunning answer to the federal assault on Minnesota, a show of solidarity that gives us something to hold on to during times that are unforgiving.
“Everybody Showed Up”: Stunning Crowds at Minnesota Day of Strike and Shutdown Against ICE
Extreme cold didn't stop the shutdown on Friday as some 100 faith leaders were arrested, residents stayed home from work, and an estimated 50,000 or more marched through downtown Minneapolis.
inthesetimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:42 AM
I'm not one for false optimism. But what I witnessed today in Minneapolis was tremendous, both in scale and exuberance. It was a stunning answer to the federal assault on Minnesota, a show of solidarity that gives us something to hold on to during times that are unforgiving.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
Current temp in Minneapolis: -12°F (-24°C), -28°F wind chill (-33°C)
Thousands of people are congregating downtown for today's General Strike march against ICE. Thousands more are on their way.
Of course we are going to win.
Thousands of people are congregating downtown for today's General Strike march against ICE. Thousands more are on their way.
Of course we are going to win.
January 23, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Current temp in Minneapolis: -12°F (-24°C), -28°F wind chill (-33°C)
Thousands of people are congregating downtown for today's General Strike march against ICE. Thousands more are on their way.
Of course we are going to win.
Thousands of people are congregating downtown for today's General Strike march against ICE. Thousands more are on their way.
Of course we are going to win.
Btw, its currently -23C in Minneapolis. Kneeling outside, saying the Lord's Prayer in -23C (-10F) temperatures.
100 Clergy Arrested Blocking Minneapolis Airport Departures, Demanding Delta End ICE Complicity
Faith leaders target airline's major hub and private aviation company enabling Trump deportation flights as Minnesota religious resistance intensifies into second day.
migrantinsider.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Btw, its currently -23C in Minneapolis. Kneeling outside, saying the Lord's Prayer in -23C (-10F) temperatures.
Incredible (and slightly depressing) to hear that this argument has been going on for nearly 7 decades...
1958: Free Speech for Fascists? | Panorama | Voice of the People | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Incredible (and slightly depressing) to hear that this argument has been going on for nearly 7 decades...
Reposted by Mary Leighton
Our high school students across the metro area show what they're made of and stage a walkout to protest ICE.
More than 1,500 Lakeside High students protest ICE
Between 1,500 to 2,000 Lakeside High School students walked out during a student-organized protest and march against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across the nation.
www.decaturish.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Our high school students across the metro area show what they're made of and stage a walkout to protest ICE.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
Greenland's Cooperation Party: Tillie Martinussen says the people of Greenland flat out say NO to MAGA's bribery & propaganda.
Turns out, it doesn't work on people whose government invested in educating their own citizens. 🙌🏻💪🏼
(Which is exactly why Republicans don't do it) / Pt1
Turns out, it doesn't work on people whose government invested in educating their own citizens. 🙌🏻💪🏼
(Which is exactly why Republicans don't do it) / Pt1
January 21, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Greenland's Cooperation Party: Tillie Martinussen says the people of Greenland flat out say NO to MAGA's bribery & propaganda.
Turns out, it doesn't work on people whose government invested in educating their own citizens. 🙌🏻💪🏼
(Which is exactly why Republicans don't do it) / Pt1
Turns out, it doesn't work on people whose government invested in educating their own citizens. 🙌🏻💪🏼
(Which is exactly why Republicans don't do it) / Pt1
Everything about this is glorious
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Everything about this is glorious
Reposted by Mary Leighton
In just seconds, an encounter with ICE agents turned deadly. The Star Tribune examined the video evidence frame by frame.
Breaking down the videos: A close examination of the shooting of Renee Good
In just seconds, an encounter with ICE agents turned deadly. The Star Tribune examined the video evidence frame by frame.
bit.ly
January 10, 2026 at 1:59 PM
In just seconds, an encounter with ICE agents turned deadly. The Star Tribune examined the video evidence frame by frame.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
my second grader is *obsessed* with everything dave pikey does. our house is overflowing with captain underpants and dog man and all the spin-offs www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
The Man Behind ‘Dog Man’ Is a Pack Leader for Young Readers
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:45 PM
my second grader is *obsessed* with everything dave pikey does. our house is overflowing with captain underpants and dog man and all the spin-offs www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/b...
Anti-depressants save lives. We live in a world where most people are completely unaware that depression can be a terminal illness - and not just because of suicide. This is a very good thing. The rarity of depression at that level of severity is entirely due to modern medicine.
I haven’t talked about this publicly—I won’t get into details—but the week of March 7th I had a patient die by suicide because of depression.
RFK jr. must be removed. This move will get people killed.
Take action: Standupforscience.net/impeach-rfkjr
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/r...
RFK jr. must be removed. This move will get people killed.
Take action: Standupforscience.net/impeach-rfkjr
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/r...
RFK Jr.’s war on antidepressants is coming — and it will cost lives
“Kennedy’s antidepressant rhetoric is not only based on bad science, it fuels distrust in mental health treatments” in the midst of a crisis for adolescents, experts write.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Anti-depressants save lives. We live in a world where most people are completely unaware that depression can be a terminal illness - and not just because of suicide. This is a very good thing. The rarity of depression at that level of severity is entirely due to modern medicine.
Guys, it's not just about oil. Don't be so cynical. After all, Venezuela also has gold and rare earth elements.
Oil, gold and rare earth elements: the backdrop to US political tension with Venezuela
The country’s enormous energy and mineral resources are consolidating as a key factor in the geopolitical dispute and in Venezuela’s institutional collapse
english.elpais.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Guys, it's not just about oil. Don't be so cynical. After all, Venezuela also has gold and rare earth elements.
Devastatingly on point editorial from Le Monde.
The return of the US's predatory imperialism
EDITORIAL. The US military attack in Caracas, Venezuela, and capture of Nicolas Maduro show that Washington now claims full rights over what it considers its backyard.
www.lemonde.fr
January 4, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Devastatingly on point editorial from Le Monde.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Mary Leighton
After this weekend’s antisemitic terror attack in Australia, it is more important than ever that people assemble for Hanukkah.
May the Festival of Lights shine brightly in Jewish homes and communities throughout the world.
May the Festival of Lights shine brightly in Jewish homes and communities throughout the world.
December 15, 2025 at 1:48 AM
After this weekend’s antisemitic terror attack in Australia, it is more important than ever that people assemble for Hanukkah.
May the Festival of Lights shine brightly in Jewish homes and communities throughout the world.
May the Festival of Lights shine brightly in Jewish homes and communities throughout the world.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
True joy recognizes and acknowledges pain, tears, sadness, and every other emotion that exists within the spectrum of human experience. It is about discovering and finding balance, equilibrium, and a sense of steadiness even in the midst of difficult, trying, and turbulent times.
December 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
True joy recognizes and acknowledges pain, tears, sadness, and every other emotion that exists within the spectrum of human experience. It is about discovering and finding balance, equilibrium, and a sense of steadiness even in the midst of difficult, trying, and turbulent times.
Reposted by Mary Leighton
When the mercury plummets to -40° (where Celsius and Fahrenheit finally agree), most sensible creatures burrow inward. But not in the Yukon. Here, in this land where exhaled breath crystallizes mid-air and exposed skin stings within seconds, I found myself moved to dance Bhangra.
December 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
When the mercury plummets to -40° (where Celsius and Fahrenheit finally agree), most sensible creatures burrow inward. But not in the Yukon. Here, in this land where exhaled breath crystallizes mid-air and exposed skin stings within seconds, I found myself moved to dance Bhangra.
Two wildly familiar issues highlighted in this article: 1) "polling showed that most French people backed the left’s ideas – investment in hospitals, fairer taxation of the very rich and multinationals – even if they didn’t vote left."
‘We have to end the melancholy’: the French leftwing MP intent on resisting the far right
Clémentine Autain believes only a leftwing alliance united behind one leader can stave off the threat of a far-right president
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Two wildly familiar issues highlighted in this article: 1) "polling showed that most French people backed the left’s ideas – investment in hospitals, fairer taxation of the very rich and multinationals – even if they didn’t vote left."
Reposted by Mary Leighton
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Watch this space: I anticipate this being the next version of the the disastrously toxic myth of the 25 year old brain "mature" brain.
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Study suggests brain development has four pivotal ‘turning points’ at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Watch this space: I anticipate this being the next version of the the disastrously toxic myth of the 25 year old brain "mature" brain.