Shervin Malekzadeh
@swarthy-bastard.bsky.social
Pitzer prof. Former kindergarten teacher, & sometime swarthy bastard. I work on democratic movements and the politics of postrevolutionary schooling in Iran.
Pinned
Opinion | A Different Iranian Revolution (Gift Article)
Americans have to stop looking at the Tehran demonstrations through the prism of 1979.
www.nytimes.com
Only a handful of anonymous op-eds have been published by The New York Times. I had the (hidden) honor of being one of those authors with my piece, "A Different Iranian Revolution," written in hope & fear at my aunt's dining room table during the early stages of the 2009 Green Movement in #Iran.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Trump drops 11 points - 11 points! - in the past month in Gallup. Just a staggering decline. 1/
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Trump drops 11 points - 11 points! - in the past month in Gallup. Just a staggering decline. 1/
holy shit
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
November 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM
holy shit
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
look, I’ve been operating on the assumption that we cannot reach Bush 2 numbers because the media environment makes the floor much higher than it was back then (and Fox won’t throw him overboard the same way)
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
look, I’ve been operating on the assumption that we cannot reach Bush 2 numbers because the media environment makes the floor much higher than it was back then (and Fox won’t throw him overboard the same way)
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
in a reasonable world the Trump admin would be catching enormous amounts of shit for their decision to deploy the national guard now that this has happened, rather than the media helping manufacture consent for them ending all refugee programs
I am not holding my breath
I am not holding my breath
The Trump DOJ played down the risk of deploying the National Guard to DC, despite warnings, and now one of them is dead. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM
in a reasonable world the Trump admin would be catching enormous amounts of shit for their decision to deploy the national guard now that this has happened, rather than the media helping manufacture consent for them ending all refugee programs
I am not holding my breath
I am not holding my breath
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Going to end on one of the most beautiful commercials ever made with the reminder and a call to remember the small things. They make a big difference to others.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
November 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Going to end on one of the most beautiful commercials ever made with the reminder and a call to remember the small things. They make a big difference to others.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
Presidencies have expiration dates!
More and more elite Republicans are realizing that their interests and Donald Trump's are diverging, which is why we'll see more of them breaking with him in the coming days.
My latest for Public Notice: www.publicnotice.co/p/post-trump...
My latest for Public Notice: www.publicnotice.co/p/post-trump...
Why MAGA is coming apart at the seams
Turns out they're not in it for Trump, they're in it for themselves.
www.publicnotice.co
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Presidencies have expiration dates!
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Among other things, the (nebulous but clearly unconstitutional) attack on naturalized US citizens contained in this screed is a significant escalation.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Among other things, the (nebulous but clearly unconstitutional) attack on naturalized US citizens contained in this screed is a significant escalation.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
How ‘The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám’ inspired Victorian Hedonists
How ‘The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám’ inspired Victorian Hedonists
The Rubáiyát brought to mind sensuous embraces in jasmine-filled gardens on balmy Arabian nights, accompanied by cups of cool, intoxicating wine
dlvr.it
November 28, 2025 at 5:09 AM
How ‘The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám’ inspired Victorian Hedonists
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
They'll build a statue to the first reporter who tells this old dumbass to eat shit on camera
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 1:50 AM
They'll build a statue to the first reporter who tells this old dumbass to eat shit on camera
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
It's easy to be numb because it's par for the course nowadays, but repeatedly calling a reporter who asks a reasonable question "stupid" is conduct unbecoming for a small-town mayor, let alone the President of the United States.
The press exists to play a watchdog role, not be a supplicant.
The press exists to play a watchdog role, not be a supplicant.
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
It's easy to be numb because it's par for the course nowadays, but repeatedly calling a reporter who asks a reasonable question "stupid" is conduct unbecoming for a small-town mayor, let alone the President of the United States.
The press exists to play a watchdog role, not be a supplicant.
The press exists to play a watchdog role, not be a supplicant.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Let's not confuse the people giving the stupid orders with the people who have to deal with following them, who are often good and decent people.
Apparently she offered to cover other people's shifts so they could go home to their families for the holiday.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
Two National Guard members were tasked with serving the nation. One is dead as the other fights for his life after shooting | CNN
On a day when many families gather across the country to give thanks, a National Guard member’s family is mourning her death after an ambush-style shooting in Washington, DC, as her colleague fights f...
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Let's not confuse the people giving the stupid orders with the people who have to deal with following them, who are often good and decent people.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
how many shooting of national guard members did we have before trump deployed a bunch to dc? less than now right? and he said he deployed them to completely stop gun violence ? huh
November 27, 2025 at 5:07 AM
how many shooting of national guard members did we have before trump deployed a bunch to dc? less than now right? and he said he deployed them to completely stop gun violence ? huh
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
I found this terribly sad. A young woman with her life ahead of her, and she becomes one of the last American victims of the Long War.
November 28, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I found this terribly sad. A young woman with her life ahead of her, and she becomes one of the last American victims of the Long War.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
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 10:47 AM
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.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
My kind of petty 🙅🏽♂️
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
My kind of petty 🙅🏽♂️
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Elections don’t normally leap to mind during the month of December but there are actually a ton of specials going on next month.
From #TN07 to competitive State Legislative specials to runoffs, @boltsmag.org has you covered!
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
From #TN07 to competitive State Legislative specials to runoffs, @boltsmag.org has you covered!
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
The 25 Elections to Watch This December - Bolts
On the heels of their sweeping wins in November, Democrats have opportunities to gain further ground in December runoffs and special elections. They’re hoping for upsets in conservative territory, fro...
boltsmag.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Elections don’t normally leap to mind during the month of December but there are actually a ton of specials going on next month.
From #TN07 to competitive State Legislative specials to runoffs, @boltsmag.org has you covered!
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
From #TN07 to competitive State Legislative specials to runoffs, @boltsmag.org has you covered!
boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
you don’t understand, under Biden doordash was expensive
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
you don’t understand, under Biden doordash was expensive
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
When I was in Belarus a few years ago, I met a guy who loved Americana and excitedly told me about taking his family on vacation to the USA, including various national parks. Just getting the tourist visa was a huge ordeal, but worth it to him. Lots of people like that. We should WELCOME them FFS
National parks have SO MANY people from other countries (since they get real vacations!)
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
November 26, 2025 at 4:05 AM
When I was in Belarus a few years ago, I met a guy who loved Americana and excitedly told me about taking his family on vacation to the USA, including various national parks. Just getting the tourist visa was a huge ordeal, but worth it to him. Lots of people like that. We should WELCOME them FFS
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
This is exactly what you do
With presidents who coup
With presidents who coup
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro must begin serving his 27-year prison sentence for plotting an attempted coup, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ruled. https://cnn.it/4p1dgDV
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is exactly what you do
With presidents who coup
With presidents who coup
For all my doubts about the meritocracy, there is no denying that these schools are among the best qualities of us as Americans
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
For all my doubts about the meritocracy, there is no denying that these schools are among the best qualities of us as Americans
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
Unprecedentedly good, in fact. Dems should be yelling from the rooftops about how good the economy Biden left was, & how Trump is destroying it. Get this terrible talking point, & this person in hock to crypto & denigrating Real Folkz as being too dumb to understand big words, off all the TV shows.
👇🎯💯
Unprecedentedly good fiscal & monetary policy. Again, I hope everyone likes Lost Decades, because the lesson the Democrats have now learned, for at least a generation, is that you should never again try & avoid them, because you will be destroyed in the media & the court of public opinion.
Unprecedentedly good fiscal & monetary policy. Again, I hope everyone likes Lost Decades, because the lesson the Democrats have now learned, for at least a generation, is that you should never again try & avoid them, because you will be destroyed in the media & the court of public opinion.
November 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Unprecedentedly good, in fact. Dems should be yelling from the rooftops about how good the economy Biden left was, & how Trump is destroying it. Get this terrible talking point, & this person in hock to crypto & denigrating Real Folkz as being too dumb to understand big words, off all the TV shows.
Reposted by Shervin Malekzadeh
I have been looking at Black Friday sales for a week but I do not actually need anything so instead I closed all those tabs and bought a Polaroid for a foster kid in Florida who uses photography to deal with big feelings. Perhaps you would like to do the same for one of the kids at the link below?
🧵 We are, in fact, doing the thing again for @onesimplewish.bsky.social. In 2024, the kind people of this community put the money cannon on blast to help grant $75K in wishes for children in foster care. Toys, tech, a suit for job interviews. Here we go again! 👇
www.onesimplewish.org/giving/megwa...
www.onesimplewish.org/giving/megwa...
November 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I have been looking at Black Friday sales for a week but I do not actually need anything so instead I closed all those tabs and bought a Polaroid for a foster kid in Florida who uses photography to deal with big feelings. Perhaps you would like to do the same for one of the kids at the link below?