Reposted by Heidi BackesRuth Ben-Ghiat @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social · 19/09/2026In authoritarian states, “law” upholds lawlessness, and its first duty is to keep the leader safe from domestic or outside accountability processes. Judicial capture is the means, and the conversion of the law into what the leader and his enablers need it to be is the end. 6671235 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesKevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 23/08/2026I wonder if there's ever been a political movement before that claimed that immigrants were all carriers of diseases and therefore needed to be removed from society? Eh, it was probably a really positive movement, not one associated with evil in any way 1803829865 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesJoey Politano🏳️🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 20/08/2026In possibly the fastest shift in public opinion I've ever seen, local data center approval went from -5 to -65 in less than a year heatmap.news/daily/data-c... 18886522342 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesGil Durán @gilduran.com · 18/08/2026The day has come! “The Nerd Reich” is now available at your favorite local bookstore. I’ll be on @msnowreports.bsky.social at approximately 10:30 am ET to talk about it. Tune in. And buy it! First week sales make a huge difference. If you keep reading, I keep fighting. 28598185 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesRebecca Colesworthy @rcolesworthy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Lots to hate here. Beyond the authoritarianism of it all I’m struck by the agonizing corniness—like the gov’t prof/head of the taskforce who’s v proud of himself for having the bright idea to pick 40 approved authors b/c of UT’s nickname of “the Forty Acres” www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...insidehighered.comUnder UT’s New Core Curriculum, Faculty Are LimitedThe new core will include a list of approved authors that faculty must select from to build their syllabi for certain courses, including Great Questions of Human Life and Masterworks of Literature. 2304 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAnna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · 13/08/2026predictably excellent from hollingshead, every word "Against the forces of antiintellectual fascists+AI tech lords, self-flagellating academics+immediacy fetishists alike, we need to champion the difficulties+pleasures of humanities scholarship with our whole chests." defector.com/humanists-ha...defector.comHumanists Have Done Nothing Wrong | DefectorFor many years, I’ve held a pet theory that cultural consumers can be grouped into two broad categories: Primary Source People and Secondary Source People. The former are the book lovers, cinephiles, ... 824173 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesKyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 12/08/2026WaPo Exclusive: The Trump admin is now set to spend at least $900 million for construction projects on the White House grounds. The price tag is much larger than previously reported, according to a Post review of confidential contracts. Taxpayers would cover most of it.washingtonpost.comTrump administration set to spend at least $900 million on White House constructionThe price tag is much larger than what has been previously reported, according to a Post review of confidential contracts, and taxpayers would cover most of it. 2511514846 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAnti-Fascism and Far Right @ffrafaction.bsky.social · 07/08/2026The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has further extended its edge over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, according to the results of a new national poll released on Thursday dpa-international.com/politics/urn...dpa-international.comPoll: Germany's far-right AfD widens lead over Merz's conservatives | dpa international 063 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesTobias Wilson-Bates @phdhurtbrain.bsky.social · 29/04/2026This is a key point that our head librarian pointed out to me. Flat or declining library budgets combined with rising ebook costs mean that increasingly the work of curating the collection is managed by outside vendors w no sense of specific institutional needs or attendance to concerns about AI. 532292 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesJeremy Dauber @jeremydauber.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Here's a question for the literary-minded among you for a project I'm working on: what is the worst novel written by a great author? I'm thinking of examples of where everyone - particularly at the time - went, "ooh, swing and a miss there." Juvenilia not included; reputation has to be established. 51338 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 05/08/2026The results of the Missouri election yesterday. Everyone in the country should be paying attention to this--and MAGA should be very concerned. Republicans lost their two amendments with 80% and 83% of the population voting against them, in a state that overwhelmingly supported Trump. 031 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesTimothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 04/08/2026In the November elections, to be radical is to be pragmatic. 14745177 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesMurshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 30/07/2026“Trump has rejected disaster aid for Democratic-run states at the highest rate in the 47-year history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” Right now people in blue states are basically paying federal taxes as if they’re colonized territories of red states. www.politico.com/news/2026/03... 16154682514 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesFaine Greenwood @faineg.com · 04/08/2026All Pretentious Literature Boys are all of course the spiritual spawn of the original, archetypal Ur-Pretentious Literature Boy. No better example exists of an Annoying Guy who Singlehandedly Created an Entire New Genre of Annoying Guys 1414919 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesJavier Prado Coronel @javiertprado.bsky.social · 13/06/2026💀 En 1831 el escritor Agustín Pérez Zaragoza comenzó a publicar la serie “Galería fúnebre de espectros y sombras ensangrentadas”: una colección de historias góticas llenas de crimen, terror y casquería. El verdadero "Penny dreadful" español 🧵👇 48622 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesJordan S. Carroll 🌹 @jordanscarroll.bsky.social · 31/07/2026If you give me $2.4 million I will deliver a book with entirely human stylistic flaws. 291 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesShiro Sirius @shirosiri.us · 29/07/2026I don’t want to be too sensationalist about this but also I’m the least violent person in the world and I think if someone said this to my face I’d hit them 10731381323 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesMarc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 29/07/2026A dozen Republican states led by Missouri asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order attacking mail voting go into effect before the midterm elections in November. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...democracydocket.comGOP states join DOJ in asking Supreme Court to let Trump block some mail ballotsThe states essentially contend that it’s too soon to block a very likely illegal order because we don’t yet, less than 100 days before the midterms, have any idea how the administration might attempt ... 121809417 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesRachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 27/07/2026tell me more about conservatives and small government. trump administration now demanding that hospitals hand over "personally identifiable medical records of all patients who seek help at their emergency rooms..." www.cnn.com/2026/07/27/h...cnn.comTrump administration demands hospitals share emergency room records | CNNA tiny federal agency tasked with protecting the public from injuries caused by lawn mowers and coffeemakers is demanding that some of the nation’s biggest health systems turn over detailed, personall... 21423241112 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAndrew Whitehead @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social · 23/07/2026The last time the US produced income & wealth inequality at these levels was during the Gilded Age/Roaring 20s. Historians & social scientists identify two commonalities between a century ago & now: the overlapping influences of Christian nationalism & capitalism. kettering.org/economic-ine...kettering.orgEconomic Inequality: How Christian Nationalism Weakens DemocracyKF Research Fellow Andrew L. Whitehead traces the connection between Christian nationalism and growing economic inequality in the US. The implications are more than economic—they can lead to democrati... 412462 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Yes, absolutely! It will be out with UWP in January, and the U of Chicago Press is the North American distributor, with copies shortly thereafter. And thanks so much for all you do. Your voice is incredibly important for all of us. 150 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 23/07/2026HCR's letter from yesterday dovetails perfectly with my forthcoming book, "Fascist Female Gothic." The use of the rhetoric of fear and monstrosity is fundamental to the project of fascism, and we must be able and willing to recognize it for what it is. History's lessons provide powerful truths. 1135 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesDr William Allchorn @willallchorn.bsky.social · 23/07/2026globalextremism.org/post/western...globalextremism.orgState Department Plans $5 Million Push for ‘Western Civilizational Heritage’ in EuropeThe Trump administration is launching a nearly $5 million State Department program to fund organizations across Europe that promote anti-immigrant narratives, Christian nationalist rhetoric, and the d... 025 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAndrew Whitehead @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social · 23/07/2026The evidence is clear—Christian nationalism cannot abide a pluralistic democratic society. And this post from a fellow expert on CN helps position this topic and other findings in relation to recent claims that ”CN is just a label used to denigrate.” 14213 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesChristine Ferguson @cferguson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026This looks really fascinating! 122 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesMatthew L Reznicek @drreznicek.bsky.social · 20/07/2026This looks SO good 181 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 20/07/2026UWP's Autumn/Winter catalogue was just released today, and it features some great new titles! Check it out here: share.google/H7OEEj0veqgP... FASCIST FEMALE GOTHIC is on page 8. 2/2 072 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 20/07/2026I'm so excited to share the cover of my forthcoming book, "Fascist Female Gothic," which will be published in January with @uniwalespress.bsky.social. Read more about it below... 1/2 23710 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesUniversity of Wales Press @uniwalespress.bsky.social · 20/07/2026📚️ New Catalogue! 📚️ We are so excited to share our Autumn Winter 2026 catalogue! Follow the link below to browse our fascinating upcoming titles 📚️ www.uwp.co.uk/app/uploads/... Including titles by @rachelcordasco.bsky.social, @knick666.bsky.social, @bodhisattvac.bsky.social ... (1/2) 198 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesNPR @npr.org · 19/07/2026Just in: Spain's run to the title was a defensive masterclass, with wins over four of the world's top ten teams. They are the first World Cup champion to win the title while only conceding a single goal.n.prSpain is the 2026 World Cup champion, defeating Argentina for its 2nd titleSpain's run to the title was a defensive masterclass, with wins over four of the world's top ten teams. They are the first World Cup champion to win the title while only conceding a single goal. 1673895 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesTom Carter @thcarter123.bsky.social · 17/07/2026You had me at National Catholicism. Looking forward to this book. 172 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Thanks so much! It is coming out in January! 😊 000 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 17/07/2026This seems like a good time to also recommend "Opus" by @garethgore.bsky.social, which has a lot of insight into Leonard Leo and his involvement with American politics and Opus Dei. 084 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesDr Jen Baker @jendeavour.bsky.social · 15/07/2026CFP 📢📢📢 *New Approaches to Teaching the Gothic*, co-edited by myself & @factorygothic.bsky.social Critical practice; pedaogical reflections; case studies; particularly in a relation to these times/spaces of crisis. VERY broad cfp. Qus welcome 👇👇👇 call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2026/07/...call-for-papers.sas.upenn.educfp | call for papers 02521 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesTitania @titaniasrealm.bsky.social · 15/07/2026"Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life." - Hermann Hesse 🎨 Julia Tar 513479577 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAsha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 14/07/2026“Prebunking” has been found to be very effective in neutralizing disinformation 442716849 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 03/07/2026In Spain, turning the shower dial by 1 millimeter is the difference between freezing into a solid ice block or burning all the skin off your body. 060 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesRodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Getting the boys together for this Austria-Spain matchup 401967339 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesNPR @npr.org · 02/07/2026The Society of St. Pius X was excommunicated by Pope Leo for ordaining bishops without his permission. Its issues with the church run far deeper.n.prWhat to know about the Society of St. Pius X, the schismatic group excommunicated by the PopeThe Society of St. Pius X was excommunicated by Pope Leo for ordaining bishops without his permission. Its issues with the church run far deeper. 2426637 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesJoanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 02/07/2026This is VERY MUCH worth reading. It’s even worse than many of us knew. All corruption. All the time. 320767 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesMeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 02/07/2026🚨NEWS: Congressional probe alleges massive fraud in Trump-aligned Freedom 250, alleging Trump allies misled donors, hijacked America’s 250th, and sold access for millionsmeidasnews.comDemocrats Allege Trump Allies 'Misled Donors' to Bankroll Freedom 250New Democratic report alleges Trump allies misled donors, hijacked America's 250th, and sold access for millions. 49553662259 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesMark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 29/06/2026We have Slaughter and Cook. By a 6–3 vote, SCOTUS overturns Humphrey's Executor and lets Trump fire heads of independent agencies. But by a 5–4 vote, it refuses to let him fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p... www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p... 431331497 0
Reposted by Heidi BackesAnna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · 27/06/2026"Hiring of college grads is down across the board. But certain majors are able to access opportunities in a wider array of industries, new LinkedIn data shows." ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH 69% VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS 68% www.forbes.com/sites/courtn... 35721287 0
Heidi Backes @heidibackes1.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Today I got to visit a site I've wanted to see in person for years: the Castro de Santa Trega in Galicia. What an incredible place. 020 0