Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaKarin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Contrary to billing change over time as our beat, as a historian I'm here to tell you that violence against women is an absolute constant. Not generations but centuries of activism & policies have made that violence only somewhat more public. Our daily news reminds us how and why. 05922
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaJulie Zebrak @juliezebrak.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Rather than teach about Jews primarily as targets of hatred — the obvious organizing principle of many lessons on the Holocaust & antisemitism training — it is crucial students learn abt Jewish identities, experiences as inextricable from our broader national narratives. forward.com/opinion/8442...forward.comAntisemitism flourishes amid cultural and historical illiteracy. Classrooms should be a cure.The post-Oct. 7 Hidden Voices project helping educators teach Jewish stories provides a necessary corrective to conspiracy theories and stereotypes. 0176
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaJulie Zebrak @juliezebrak.bsky.social · 11/08/2026“For the vast majority of Americans with scant awareness of Jewish history or experience, teaching and learning about Jews as integral to this nation’s past and present is a new, and potentially powerful intervention.” @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social forward.com/opinion/8442...forward.comAntisemitism flourishes amid cultural and historical illiteracy. Classrooms should be a cure.The post-Oct. 7 Hidden Voices project helping educators teach Jewish stories provides a necessary corrective to conspiracy theories and stereotypes. 2186
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaClaire Bond Potter @clairepotter.com · 11/08/2026@nataliapetrzela.bsky.social: "Ignorance provides antisemitism, an insidious shapeshifter that infects and unifies the otherwise polarized political right and left, with a powerful accelerant." forward.com/opinion/8442...forward.comAntisemitism flourishes amid cultural and historical illiteracy. Classrooms should be a cure.The post-Oct. 7 Hidden Voices project helping educators teach Jewish stories provides a necessary corrective to conspiracy theories and stereotypes. 031
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaMentofy @mentofy.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela notes the Biden administration's substantial federal investment in education contrasted with a lack of assertive public messaging. This approach left educators navigating complex funding and policy shifts amid pandemic disruptions.mentofy.comHistorian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela on Biden’s Education LegacyHistorian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela’s analysis of the Biden administration's education legacy reveals a complex picture, one where significant federal investment met a notable absence of assertive publ... 011
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaThe 74 @the74.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela on the Biden presidency: “It was the culmination of his political career, but it came at a very awkward moment for someone of his age and background and beliefs” bit.ly/4z6WOri 021
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaMatthew Sheffield @matthew.flux.community · 03/06/2026The naturalistic fallacy is really, really tempting for a lot of people. But no one applies it consistently, especially Kennedy types.plus.flux.communityRobert Kennedy’s bizarre obsession with ‘natural’ isn’t going to make Americans healthierHistorian of fitness Natalia Mehlman Petrzela on why an obese president has a health secretary who moralizes about wellness 071
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaSara Georgini @sarageorgini.bsky.social · 23/06/2026🗃️ Super excited for @netflix.com launch of terrific series #TheAmericanExperiment in which I get to show serious national treasure @mhs1791.bsky.social. Please check it out starting 6/24 + share word, great launch convo w director @brianknappenberger.bsky.social & always fab @jbf1755.bsky.social 🍿 36628
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaClaire Bond Potter @clairepotter.com · 22/06/2026Are you a @historians.org member? Please make it a priority to vote in this year’s elections: they close July 15. (THREAD: link to vote in #10) 123
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman Petrzelanativetexan.bsky.social @nativetexan.bsky.social · 07/06/2026@nataliapetrzela.bsky.social, check this out. It is rather sad that so many folks are priced out of participating in sports. www.deseret.com/utah/2026/06...deseret.comHow the Larry H. Miller family hopes to make youth sports more accessible in UtahMiller Sports + Entertainment, the Larry H. Miller & Gail Miller Family Foundation and the Daniels Fund announced the inaugural Utah Youth Sports Giving Day on Friday. 111
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaJonathan Ladd @jonathanmladd.com · 08/05/2026ABC News: Elon Musk’s DOGE “blatantly used” race, gender and other protected characteristics to execute the largest mass termination of federal grants in the history of the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal judge ruled on Thursday. abcnews.com/Politics/jud... 551544542
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaDavid Meyer @dajmeyer.bsky.social · 14/04/2026@nataliapetrzela.bsky.social, Can American Studies Save Itself? www.chronicle.com/article/can-... "the solution to the field’s 'credibility problem' does not lie in balancing it with more positive depictions of the American past but rather in a recommitment to dispassionate scholarly rigor"chronicle.comOpinion | Can American Studies Save Itself?The field is under attack, but turning back the clock isn’t the answer. 011
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaErin Grievances @erinbartram.bsky.social · 10/04/2026It is remarkable that the solution to this problem is to just read the fucking things you claim to have read. A solution that works in all disciplines! 1668
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 10/04/2026I don't think there is an issue with using AI to support research -- we are always adapting to new technologies -- but verifying sources and citations is like Scholarship 101. I hope this editor retracted the article... 2202
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 10/04/2026Thank you so much for having me! 031
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 09/04/2026Proud to have a chapter in this book, among many eminent historians! 030
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 18/02/2026I will be interviewing @andrewhartman.bsky.social about his new book MARX IN AMERICA @thenewschool.bsky.social on March 9! Free and open to the public - reg link below! 064
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaDepartment of Sociology at Northern Arizona University @nausociology.bsky.social · 25/02/2026This looks like a neat event next Tuesday! Come see Natalia Mehlman Petrzela speak at 5:30 pm in Liberal Arts 120 on March 3. 041
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaShingo Mouse @shingomouse.bsky.social · 23/02/2026RFK Jr.'s fitness ad with Kid Rock is a collision of MAHA and the manosphere www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...ms.nowOpinion | RFK Jr. and Kid Rock's MAHA manosphere mashupNatalia Mehlman Petrzela: The health secretary and rocker's alpha-male preening won't make anyone healthier 121
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaMS NOW @ms.now · 23/02/2026OPINION by The New School Professor of History Natalia Mehlman Petrzela "This stunt is more than just a disgusting distraction; it signals the dark reality of what MAHA — Make America Healthy Again — now unapologetically embraces..." READ MORE: www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...ms.nowOpinion | RFK Jr. and Kid Rock's MAHA manosphere mashupNatalia Mehlman Petrzela: The health secretary and rocker's alpha-male preening won't make anyone healthier 63618
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 22/02/2026My latest: 021
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaElmira Bayrasli @elmirab.bsky.social · 23/02/2026A special shout out to NYC bus drivers and postal workers, who don’t get a snow day. ❄️ thank you 🙏🏼 021
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 22/02/2026I wrote about the RFK, Jr./Kid Rock video for @msnowreports.bsky.social www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...ms.nowOpinion | RFK Jr. and Kid Rock's MAHA manosphere mashupNatalia Mehlman Petrzela: The health secretary and rocker's alpha-male preening won't make anyone healthier 062
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 22/02/2026I wrote about the RFK, Jr./Kid Rock video for @msnowreports.bsky.social www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...ms.nowOpinion | RFK Jr. and Kid Rock's MAHA manosphere mashupNatalia Mehlman Petrzela: The health secretary and rocker's alpha-male preening won't make anyone healthier 062
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 18/02/2026I will be interviewing @andrewhartman.bsky.social about his new book MARX IN AMERICA @thenewschool.bsky.social on March 9! Free and open to the public - reg link below! 064
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 18/02/2026There was this tiny subgenre of fitness/gym-themed lightly erotic horror in the 1980s — one classic was called Aerobicide — and the whole RFK/Kid Rock workout/sauna/drink milk spot reminds me of nothing more 031
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaMatthew Sheffield @matthew.flux.community · 28/01/2026And finally, there is a third significant psychological impulse that Trumpism has going for it, and that is the appeal to "naturalism." Many people have deep suspicion of technologies they don't understand. RFK has weaponized this for Trump, as @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social and I noted:plus.flux.communityRobert Kennedy’s bizarre obsession with ‘natural’ isn’t going to make Americans healthierHistorian of fitness Natalia Mehlman Petrzela on why an obese president has a health secretary who moralizes about wellness 45414
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Everyone is out and about as usual in NYC, but the extra narrow sidewalks due to the snowbanks (and uncollected trash tbh) mean that there is this sweet connection I experienced many times yesterday where otherwise random, rushed ppl make eye contact, smile, and gesture to the other to go first 060
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Woohoo! Curious what does this mean in terms of my experience on the app? 020
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 27/01/2026Fascinating: colleges spending marketing money on selling higher ed *in general* rather than trying to attract students to their specific offerings. Smart. IMO, these should air during highly viewed college sports, engage coaches in this messaging hechingerreport.org/value-polici...hechingerreport.orgHigher education starts to fight back against attacks on its value and policiesThe higher education industry has launched several new marketing campaigns in the hope of reclaiming the message about itself in the face of political attacks and public skepticism. 023
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 27/01/2026Fascinating: colleges spending marketing money on selling higher ed *in general* rather than trying to attract students to their specific offerings. Smart. IMO, these should air during highly viewed college sports, engage coaches in this messaging hechingerreport.org/value-polici...hechingerreport.orgHigher education starts to fight back against attacks on its value and policiesThe higher education industry has launched several new marketing campaigns in the hope of reclaiming the message about itself in the face of political attacks and public skepticism. 023
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 25/01/2026One of my most chilling classroom memories is when I asked a full seminar room of (smart! engaged!) undergrads why none of them had voted in a recent election, and one sheepishly said that when everyone on campus seems to have the same politics, there's little motivation to engage 030
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 23/01/2026All the reporting is making it look like Mamdani decided snow days = zoom school. No. This is a stupid Covid-era policy that lets this day count as an instructional day for teachers and staff (and students, who will almost surely learn nothing!) gothamist.com/news/nyc-may...?gothamist.comNYC Mayor Mamdani says no traditional school snow day MondayPublic school students will either have to attend school in person or via remote learning, he says, and the city will decide by mid-Sunday. 001
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaNatalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Really worth reading on why “viewpoint diversity” may not be the answer, but figuring out a way to cultivate intellectual ferment and rigorous inquiry should be a top priority on all campuses www.chronicle.com/article/four...chronicle.comFour Scholars Agree, Disagree, and Agree to Disagree on Viewpoint DiversityIs the movement to increase intellectual pluralism a genuine reform effort or a partisan power grab? 122
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaGreg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 23/01/2026This kid and his father entered via CBP One app. It's just absurd and monumentally unfair for people who availed themselves of lawful channels when they existed by following government processes to suddenly get detained and deported to a third country. newrepublic.com/article/2056... 131137322
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaLogan Jaffe @loganjaffe.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Look at this: @inquirer.com has digitally preserved the interpretative signage removed by NPS, and used annotations to explain what specifically was flagged before removal. This keeps the content publicly accessible (for now) while doing newsworthy reporting www.inquirer.com/news/philade...inquirer.comHere are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence ParkFollowing last year’s review, every sign has been removed from the President’s House site. 16859403
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Really worth reading on why “viewpoint diversity” may not be the answer, but figuring out a way to cultivate intellectual ferment and rigorous inquiry should be a top priority on all campuses www.chronicle.com/article/four...chronicle.comFour Scholars Agree, Disagree, and Agree to Disagree on Viewpoint DiversityIs the movement to increase intellectual pluralism a genuine reform effort or a partisan power grab? 122
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 23/01/2026All the reporting is making it look like Mamdani decided snow days = zoom school. No. This is a stupid Covid-era policy that lets this day count as an instructional day for teachers and staff (and students, who will almost surely learn nothing!) gothamist.com/news/nyc-may...?gothamist.comNYC Mayor Mamdani says no traditional school snow day MondayPublic school students will either have to attend school in person or via remote learning, he says, and the city will decide by mid-Sunday. 001
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaMatthew Sheffield @matthew.flux.community · 18/01/2026For more on the fear of the "unnatural," please see this recent podcast episode I did with @nataliapetrzela.bsky.socialplus.flux.communityRobert Kennedy’s bizarre obsession with ‘natural’ isn’t going to make Americans healthierHistorian of fitness Natalia Mehlman Petrzela on why an obese president has a health secretary who moralizes about wellness 424535
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 18/01/2026In perhaps the most vivid example of The Internet is Not Real Life, ALL my feeds are teeming with Heated Rivalry takes, but at the actual hockey rink where I am this weekend (and most), no one has even mentioned it. The 2 ppl I asked hadn’t heard of it! 240
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 18/01/2026Must read on UATX for anyone in higher education Reflects that core lesson of grad school: it is much easier to identify a problem and tear down your opponents than to build something original and better www.politico.com/news/magazin...politico.comThey Wanted a University Without Cancel Culture. Then Dissenters Were Ousted.Inside the civil war at the anti-woke university backed by Bari Weiss. 090
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 15/01/2026If there was an origin point of the "hot mom" expectation, it is with Debbie Drake, who promised a generation of women that just becoming wives didn't mean they should (or could!) give up on being "whistlebait" 020
Reposted by Natalia Mehlman PetrzelaKarin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · 15/01/2026The crisis is real, and this is part of our effort at new approaches to supporting scholars and advancing scholarship in the (vast!) early Americas. Sharing again and would appreciate your sharing, too. More info in the thread. 🧵⬇️ 213378
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 14/01/2026Not surprising. In over a decade of talking about my fitness culture research, the assumption went from “this is a woman’s topic” to audiences and questions being much more about teen boys and men 140
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social · 12/01/2026What a fantastic cap on an intense couple of days at #AHA26 #AHA2026 Excellent *conversation* re the importance of studying the histories of fashion, food, leisure, FUN as pathways into more fully understanding human experience and affect 0151