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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives

@davidrotenstein.bsky.social
2.3K followers 983 following 3.8K posts

Historian. Writer. Folklorist. | History is my hustle. Opinions here are my own.

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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 8h
It's still the Department of Defense, still the Gulf of Mexico, still Lake Ontario, still Twitter, and still AI. Fuck this guy who thinks everyone else has to follow his weird-ass made up rules about what we call things. Don't call them that now, and officially change them all back when he's gone.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 11h
We don’t spend enough time talking about just how WEIRD all these people are. This is just an incredibly weird and insecure thing to say. Imagine any other SecDef ever being this weird and insecure?!
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 11h
Cowboys past and present are: Black, Indigenous, Latino, immigrant, queer, trans, radical, female (and the ones in rodeos rely on rodeo clowns to keep them safe). And that pro-democracy pro-Constitution patriots despise this dimwitted pile of hatreds. I've met cowboys and you, sir, are no cowboy.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas @cals-eoa.bsky.social · 11h
On this day in 1919, a group of African Americans, mostly sharecroppers, attended a union meeting at a church in Hoop Spur, #Arkansas. What happened next kicked off several days of anti-black violence now known as the Elaine Massacre. Read more at: encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/elai...
encyclopediaofarkansas.net
Elaine Massacre of 1919 - Encyclopedia of Arkansas
The Elaine Massacre was by far the deadliest racial confrontation in Arkansas history and possibly the bloodiest racial conflict in the history of the ...
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 10h
If Trump thinks cost overruns on a renovation project are criminal, I have a reflecting pool to sell him
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 11h
when your country's new accord on “super intelligence” misspells the country's name
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
utopia deferred @utopia-defer.red · 11h
I know we're all tired of the "they just said it out loud" shtick but it feels noteworthy that the secretary of defense is articulating the Garrison State as an explicit objective of the American christian fascist project.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 21h
Most TV is just this now.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 16h
Took the new federal AI out for a spin with a question it didn't want to answer. It did tell me to call 911 if I thought it was an emergency. I do think it's an emergency, but 911 won't be able to help.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Kentucky Lantern @kentuckylantern.com · 18h
Trump TV ads paid for with $20M in Homeland Security funds, Dems find kentuckylantern.com/2026/09/30/r...
kentuckylantern.com
Trump TV ads paid for with $20M in Homeland Security funds, Dems find • Kentucky Lantern
President Donald Trump is tapping $20 million in Homeland Security funding to pay for TV ads that heavily feature him ahead of the midterm elections, Democrats said Tuesday.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
if you know anything about senator schmitt's monumental fuck up in the jack smith hearing, i implore you to reach out. can be anonymous. signal: marisakabas.04 email: marisa@thehandbasket.co
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Circus Performers, by Walt Kuhn, 1978, 📸 via @marisakabas.bsky.social
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I think it's broken. Too bad, I was really looking forward to an answer.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 29/09/2026
Lullz
Can the president rename the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts?

No. Not without Congress. I cannot give legal advice.Can the president demolish the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts?

Not on his own. Congress created the John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a national memorial. I cannot give legal advice.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 29/09/2026
Trump’s new AI website is kinda fun, it turns out.
Can the president use taxpayer funds to air his old campaign ads on TV?

No. Federal appropriations law has long barred using taxpayer funds for political advertising.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is so embarrassing, @planetizen.bsky.social. It's Pittsburgh, not Pittsburg.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Didn’t Don Corleone also have a gated compound?
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We recently had our mail held. It took 3 days to get delivery resumed after returning (despite the hold request clearly stating when to resume). We regularly get other folks' mail, sometimes the carriers skip us. These are the people who are going to ensure a secure, fair election? Right.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Hasn't a single power strip designer ever owned a cat? Seriously, on-off switches on top, easily flipped by a cat's paw? I awakened to a dead phone & depleted watch thanks to this mischievous little lady exploring behind my nightstand.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
You know you've got a problem when a visitor pulls you aside and discretely asks, "Is that house next door condemned?" Just another example of how work can hit too close to home. I just noticed the cat photobomb in this shot I took Sept. 14!
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Another issue with framing: language. How many ordinary Americans know what reconciliation means? It's a big word with lots to unpack. "Truth and Consequences Movement, Commission, etc." packs more punch, is easier to understand, and gets right to the heart of the issue.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"Biscuification" must be adopted as a new public history best practice!
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I have never underestimated Trump’s lying, or his ability to spew bullshit. But he has in fact lost substantial control of his mind. And his ability to distinguish truth from lies—which was never really strong or important to him—is, at this point, de minimis.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
How do the rest of us get this?
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It is a horror movie, minus the movie.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Carly Goodman @carlygoodman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Congratulations, we have created a world where teenagers cannot exist with each other in space, where we use “safety” to destroy sociality, youth, and development.
Screenshot of themocoshow instagram account 

Montgomery County, Maryland

New Under-18 Policy Begins Today at Westfield Montgomery and Westfield Wheaton

READ MORE

themocoshow A new Parental Guidance Policy begins today, Monday, September 28, at Westfield Wheaton and Westfield Montgomery malls, requiring visitors under 18 to be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or chaperone age 21 or older after 3pm daily.
The policy will be in effect from 3pm until closing, seven days a week, and applies to interior and exterior common areas at both malls. According to signage now posted at the malls, one supervising adult age 21 or older may accompany no more than
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Paul Waldman @paulwaldman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"Donald Trump increased the price of gas, and now he wants you to have to buy more of it." Doesn't seem like a difficult messaging challenge for Democrats.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Can you imagine how many of the nation's housing problems might be solved if more people took one simple step: making a will? For the past 6 months I've been immersed in vacant, abandoned & deteriorated housing interviews and research. Most cases begin w/a dead relative, no will & competing heirs.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
So is the White House, the Kennedy Center, and for that matter the Supreme Court, Congress, the executive branch, the rule of law, the military, public health, and.... Let's hope for a midterm landslide and thereafter some memory in the electorate of who broke what.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
September 27: Way to go Costco 🎅🎄
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Alex Gibney @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The trailer for my new film, "Musk," has just been released.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
More than 20 years using Google Earth Pro ends as Google eliminates desktop version & tells users to export all data before 2027.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Acey Deecey 🚀🚀 @mcgarrygirl78.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Fantastic article on the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. We're living in an era of the government trying to erase our achievements and darken our futures.
smithsonianmag.com
For Years, the Smithsonian Strove to Bring the African American History and Culture Museum to the National Mall. Now, It Celebrates a Decade as a Beacon of Understanding, Community and Resilience
The museum lovingly called the "Blacksonian" chronicles the past and present and envisions the future to tell the stories of Black life in America
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
".... the board is unconcerned about the ethics allegations against their new Executive Director." Here we go again: hiring a senior official with a cloud hanging over their head. Anyone setting up a lettuce cam/timer?
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The kids these days will hardly believe it, but a mere two years ago, the mental & physical (lack of) acuity of Elderly Presidents was the Great Issue of Our Time. Someone should tell Jake Tapper & Alex Thompson, so they can write a book on it.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Pittsburgh Progress @pittsburghprogress.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Pressed Steel Car 1909 strike in McKees Rocks was the first time that foreign-born workers in Pittsburgh stepped to the forefront and demanded fair treatment. Contributor Mark Roth explains its history and lasting impact: pittsburghprogress.com/immigrants-p...
The graphic reads: Immigrants played major role in Pressed Steel Car 1909 strike. The McKees Rocks battle deserves its rightful place in labor and social history.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Good to know!
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Welcome to Covington, Kentucky, where compliance with the law is optional.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Life comes at you fast
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 25/09/2026
Amnesty International calls for ICE to be abolished
lemonde.fr
Amnesty International calls for ICE to be abolished
In a report titled 'We Had Whistles, They Had Guns,' the NGO documents widespread human rights violations committed by ICE in the United States.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Douglas Cheape @douglascheape.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This, to me, doesn't look like the kind of thing you want to encourage your dog to go for.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I still can't understand why cigarettes are still legal. There are no health benefits to them & there's no question that they cause disease and death. Add to that the huge sums impoverished people pay for their smokes, it's truly mind-boggling that it's still possible to make, buy & sell them.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Most people can live on a street for decades and never experience a drug raid. Here, they're a regular occurrence. Our neighbor's record of police incidents clocks in at 268 pages (2020-2026): meth busts, domestic violence, crack warrants & one hostage situation requiring an armed response.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
HELL NO. I'm sticking with Sprecher's.
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Is it scorching masculinity or obesity that his boss would say disqualifies him from military service?
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 24/09/2026
A bookseller confronts a mysterious company hunting his rarest books.
motherjones.com
A bookseller confronts a mysterious company hunting his rarest books
Was a Kentucky retailer targeted by a destructive AI "predator"?
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David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives @davidrotenstein.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Burning question of our times: For whom the cow laughs?
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
NBC News @nbcnews.com · 24/09/2026
ICE detained Kentucky State basketball player from Senegal as she prepared to travel to a tournament.
nbcnews.to
ICE detained Kentucky State basketball player from Senegal as she prepared to travel to tournament
Aminata Seck, 26, was named winner of last season’s SIAC Women’s Basketball Elite 16 award, presented to student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary performance in athletics and the classroom.
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
nota-karen.bsky.social @nota-karen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Overnight, they put up fencing around Memorial Circle where Trump wants his arch, but it’s in a lawsuit & has not been approved. He’ll just start it like he did with WH East Wing demolition. #ImpeachTrump
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Reposted by David Rotenstein, Curator, Shrouded in Secrecy Archives
AP Stylebook @apstylebook.com · 23/09/2026
Artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand. Avoid language that gives them human characteristics.
apnews.com
https://apnews.com/article/openai-safety-ai-framework-089e75b95bc935af092da7b79d92706d
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