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C. A. Vaughn Cross

@vaughncrossca.bsky.social
956 followers 471 following 144 posts

Social Historian, Pre-21c Tech, AmReligion, SexRaceReligion in the Bible Belt; 6th-Generation Alabamian

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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
Jonathan Slater @jonathanslater.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
You choose to live. You choose to make your life all you want it to be
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Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Trump cancels $1B in federal spending in latest affrontto Congress Politico Lawmakers including top Republicans say 'pocket rescission' tactic is illegal Supreme Ct did not allow Nixon to impound funds Funding for immigration services, support to foreign countries, ed programs bit.ly/4ygD5Eu
bit.ly
Trump cancels $1B in federal spending in latest challenge to Congress
Many lawmakers, including some top Republicans, say the "pocket rescission" tactic is illegal.
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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🚨 The Supreme Court has ruled against Trump, rejecting his efforts to enact new mail-in voting restrictions for the midterm election. The ruling released Monday by the high court means the U.S. Postal Service is expected to continue delivering ballots as usual.
npr.org
The Supreme Court rejects Trump's mail voting restrictions for this year's midterms
The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's request to allow mail-in voting restrictions under a U.S. Postal Service plan for the midterm general election.
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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
We Are One Step Closer to the Return of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/we-are-one...
kevinmlevin.substack.com
We Are One Step Closer to the Return of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery
The Washington Post reported earlier today that the text on an interpretive wayside panel at the former site of the Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery has been changed.
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Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Thanks to @stephenwest.bsky.social for breaking this story. #CivilWarMemory
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Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This is incredibly unfortunate. I wrote this post back in 2024 after my last visit to the site. I led a tour this past summer, but we did not stop at Section 16. #CivilWarMemory kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/approachin...
kevinmlevin.substack.com
Approaching the Confederate Dead, Without the Memorial, at Arlington National Cemetery
Last week I visited Arlington National Cemetery.
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Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
This revised text makes it easier for supporters of the Confederate monument in Arlington National Cemetery to refer to it as a "Reconciliation Monument." As I pointed out in this post, no one at the time of its dedication did so. kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/stop-refer...
kevinmlevin.substack.com
Stop Referring to the Confederate Monument in Arlington National Cemetery as a "Reconciliation Monument"
Secretary Hegseth has announced his intention to reinstall the monument in 2027.
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bfitzinAR @bfitzinar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
@annelouiseavery.bsky.social's Patreon - "Old Fox's Grand List of Thirty Things to Do in September. Number Four: Baking a Hamlet Crumble" #OldFoxCommunity (Bear's Sisters, Peter, Mouse) Today is a good day to subscribe. www.patreon.com/annelouiseav...
patreon.com
Old Fox's Grand List of Thirty Things to Do in September. Number Four: Baking a Hamlet Crumble | Anne Louise Avery
It was the first cold morning of the autumn, and Bear's Sisters, wrapped in their grey woollen mufflers, were up with the dawn to pick the v
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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 06/09/2026
As Americans mark 25 years since #September11, social work research offers a reminder about what can happen after tragedy: People turn toward family, neighbors and community for strength, and recovery happens when we lean on each other. theconversation.com/25-years-aft...
theconversation.com
25 years after 9/11, what disasters reveal about Americans’ ability to reconnect
Decades of disaster research show how catastrophes strain communities – and reveal the connections that help people endure.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 06/09/2026
“Stars and Stripes” has spent generations reporting on the U.S. military, even when the military doesn’t like what it reports. It shows government-funded journalism can work – if the government keeps its hands off the reporting.
theconversation.com
Stars and Stripes shows how government-funded journalism can work – if it’s free to report the truth
The military newspaper earned credibility by informing troops about the good, the bad and everything in between. But the Pentagon’s recent crackdown on the paper is putting that trust to the test.
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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
Josh W. Comeau @joshwcomeau.com · 28/07/2023
A couple hundred years ago, France briefly moved to a *metric calendar*. It's SO GOOD. The year is broken into 12 months. Each month is split into 3 weeks, and each week has 10 days. That means each month has 30 days. But wait, that only leaves 360 days per year… 🤔
Hard-to-understand photo of the French Republican calendar, showing 30-day months and "les jours complementaires"
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Reposted by C. A. Vaughn Cross
The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 04/09/2026
🍰 It's the 4th anniversary of our news quiz! And to celebrate, we've got a quiz that's 25% bigger and better. How well have you been following the week's news? theconversation.com/the-conversa...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 26/08/2026
Her research appeared in a State Department report on Cuba, uncredited. But the Trump Administration drew opposite conclusions to make claims that Cuba is plotting terrorists against the US. But here’s what history actually shows: theconversation.com/trumps-cuba-...
theconversation.com
Trump’s Cuba report borrowed heavily from my book on an anti-imperialist movement – but twisted the arguments
The State Department views a 1960s-era internationalist movement based in Havana as a Cuban communist plot to destroy America. The truth was far more nuanced.
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
More idiocy from Trump. Just fyi: Lake Ontario comes from the Native American name for the lake, and it's been called that since the founding. The Canadian province is named after the lake. "Lake Ontario" is a far more authentically American name than, say, "Mar-a-Lago."
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 26/08/2026
RIP Dolly 🩷 She spent decades playing with the contradictions between “real” and “fake” — turning big hair, rhinestones and her “Backwoods Barbie” image into an expression of authenticity all her own.
theconversation.com
How the ‘backwoods Barbie’ Dolly Parton turned self-aware artifice into authentic artistry
Dolly Parton’s first hit was titled ‘Dumb Blonde’. The country music legend, who has died at 80, was anything but that.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 25/08/2026
Why rage bait works: If you reply to posts that make you angry, your algorithm learns to show you more things that anger why. It wants your engagement — however it can get it. theconversation.com/why-social-m...
theconversation.com
Why social media algorithms send you posts you don’t like
Algorithms on X tend to bring you posts that contradict your values, and it happens more to Democrats than Republicans.
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Drew Scanlon @drewscanlon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Hi Internet! I'm Drew and THIS IS MY FACE. If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease! Donate at blinkingguy.com
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Felgraf @felgraf.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
It's from an old episode of Giant Bomb, a Starbound video. There's a clip here www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uyT... (Thumbnail is annoying, but video is only 11 seconds long) He's just reacting to an intentional Double-entendre Jeff Gerstman made.
youtube.com
White Guy Blinking - Drew's Meme Reaction
YouTube video by Szlifier
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Frank Pasquale @frankpasquale.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
“TikTok, YouTube, and even Meta have taken steps to label some AI-generated content, while LinkedIn, where many users haven’t encountered a human word in months, introduced a “Seems Like AI” button. nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com
Hey, Your AI Is Showing
Detectors, watermarks, and slop-reporting buttons: What happens when AI can no longer hide?
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American Historical Association @historians.org · 03/08/2026
Last week, the AHA welcomed educators to the Library of Congress for the in-person portion of the inaugural Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Mid-Atlantic and US Territories regional hybrid conference. Participants toured the Library, explored its collections, and connected with fellow educators.
A person stands at a podium presenting in a room with a screen displaying "Teaching with Primary Sources." Two seated individuals are at a table facing the audience. Several attendees are seated at round tables. A group of people stand inside the Library of Congress, viewing the ornate architecture with its detailed ceiling and statues. Several individuals are gathered around a statue.A person is viewing a display table with historical documents and photographs. One hand is holding open a book with handwritten pages. A group of people seated around round tables in a grand, ornately decorated room with large arched windows and intricate wall designs.
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Matthew Boedy @matthewboedy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
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Reuters @reuters.com · 02/08/2026
Capital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after anti-money laundering probe reut.rs/4halBnD
reut.rs
Capital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after anti-money laundering probe
The disclosure marks the first time a bank has formally tied money laundering concerns to Trump's family business.
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Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
“Even Ms. Bondi reportedly believed that the government had no viable case against Comey” In 50+ page filing, James Comey seeks court dismissal of seashells-by-the-seashore case, arguing it’s a “vindictive” prosecution from a “fruitless” investigation storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
Memorandum in Support of Motion – #36 in United States v. Comey (E.D.N.C., 4:26-cr-00016) – CourtListener.com
Memorandum in Support by James Brien Comey, Jr regarding 35 MOTION to Dismiss Indictment for Vindictive and Selective Prosecution filed by James Brien Comey, Jr. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Appendix...
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AAUP @aaup.org · 23/07/2026
US research excels because generations of scientists have been free to pursue difficult questions, challenge conventional wisdom, and publish findings without political interference. The Trump admin wants to change that. @afthighered.bsky.social Full statement: www.aaup.org/news/aaup-af...
aaup.org
AAUP, AFT Reject Trump’s Radical Plans to Overhaul Scientific Research Funding
AAUP President Todd Wolfson and AFT President Randi Weingarten issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s proposal to transform how the federal government funds research.
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Stanford AAUP @stanfordaaup.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Shocking revelation in court documents that the Trump administration canceled billions of dollars of grants for energy projects based solely on whether states voted for Trump. ... and this is the sanitized version they presented to avoid discovery! www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him (Gift Article)
Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.
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AAUP @aaup.org · 28/07/2026
Trump is waging a “Khmer Rouge-esque war on American science & intellectual achievement writ large,” escalating the climate crisis while systematically gutting the research needed to predict, mitigate, & survive it. #academicsky
prospect.org
The Strongest El Niño in History Is Coming. Get Ready. - The American Prospect
Donald Trump has no ideas, but America is ready for a U-turn on climate change.
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AAUP @aaup.org · 22/07/2026
OUT TODAY, the AAUP just released the first comprehensive account of how the Trump administration has taken the same playbook it's used on law firms & foreign governments & turned it on American universities. US higher ed has, in effect, become a target of a massive extortion racket. 🧵
aaup.org
New Report on Extorted Compliance Charges “Massive Extortion Racket” Against Higher Ed
A new AAUP report, "Extorted Compliance: A Threat to Institutional Autonomy, Academic Freedom, and Shared Governance," exposes how the Trump administration has extended its pay-to-play approach to gov...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 27/07/2026
Bird poop changed the world. Before synthetic fertilizers, seabird guano fueled agricultue, reshaped global trade, and led America to seek territory overseas. It's a surprising history that reminds us that the world’s food supply has long rested on fragile connections between remote places.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 22/01/2026
Two months without screens after a concussion brought better sleep, a longer attention span and a sense of mental quiet to a public health researcher. The experience reminded her that genuine restoration comes from reducing mental demands—not just the illusion of rest.
buff.ly
Why ‘unwinding’ with screens may be making us more stressed – here’s what to try instead
Many people may call it self-care to crash on the couch with your smartphone, but screen-based activities increase the load on your brain instead of resting it.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 14/04/2026
¡Ándale! Speedy Gonzales is racing back to the big screen 🐭 Once pulled for stereotypes, Speedy Gonzales is back and is expected to be well-equipped to bring cultural awareness to the animated feature: theconversation.com/andale-arrib...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 02/06/2026
Your phone screen doesn’t have the same color range as the human eye – and AI widens the gap between digital images and the real thing
theconversation.com
Your phone screen doesn’t have the same color range as the human eye – and AI widens the gap between digital images and the real thing
A photographer describes how your phone camera flattens and dulls the colors in photos – and how to regain an appreciation for the wide spectrum of colors.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 19/07/2026
Screen time guidelines for kids and adolescents have shifted as research paints a more nuanced picture
theconversation.com
Screen time guidelines for kids and adolescents have shifted as research paints a more nuanced picture
Studies increasingly show that how kids are using screens is more important than the exact amount of time they’re spending on them – and parents and caregivers tend to know what’s best for their families.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 23/07/2026
AI skills matter—but employers are still looking for an asset technology can't replace. Scholars who research how technology is changing the workplace explain why people skills continue to be one of the strongest predictors of hiring success. theconversation.com/why-employer...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 23/07/2026
The House voted 308-117 to make daylight saving time permanent. But a sleep researcher says the evidence points the other way: Year-round standard time is the healthier choice. theconversation.com/time-for-a-c...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 24/07/2026
Some faith communities are expanding what it means to offer protection, belonging, and solidarity to immigrants facing uprooted lives, drawing on the Pope’s teachings. theconversation.com/sanctuary-pe...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 26/07/2026
Despite the rise of digital payments, Americans and businesses still use—and need—paper checks more than many people realize, a business professor explains: theconversation.com/should-paper...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 28/07/2026
Birding comes with more benefits than just spotting new species—it can also boost your mental health, improve memory function and help build a meaningful community. theconversation.com/flocking-tog...
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 28/07/2026
Who gets to decide how elections are run? A former federal judge points out the Constitution leaves that job to the states (not the president): theconversation.com/mail-in-voti... #polisky
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 28/07/2026
Why is vaccine misinformation so persuasive? A communications expert explains how effective storytelling and appeals to ideals can make medically inaccurate claims feel convincing—and what public health communicators can learn in trying do make effective counter-messages. #vaccineswork
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Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
When the president makes statements about the war, they are full of wishful thinking, hyperbole, and outright lies. The public needs to demand the truth from Trump and Hegseth. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
theatlantic.com
The American People Need the Truth About the Iran War
The president and the Pentagon are not being upfront about what has happened in more than 20 weeks of hostilities.
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 29/07/2026
Tech companies need to generate huge revenues fast—or the economy could be in trouble, @annielowrey.bsky.social argues:
bit.ly
The AI Bubble Is No Ordinary Bubble
Tech companies need to generate huge revenues fast, or the economy could be in trouble.
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Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
"The model wasn’t malicious it was just doing what it was optimized to do." www.scientificamerican.com/article/open...
scientificamerican.com
OpenAI admits its agent went rogue, triggering a major hack
The incident underscores concerns over the increasingly powerful cybersecurity capabilities of new AI models
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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 25/07/2026
If the BBC can prove that Trump was aware of the violence he was fomenting, his whole defamation case falls apart. trib.al/UVXUtEG
trib.al
BBC Demands More Records on Jack Smith’s January 6 Report
The BBC wants President Trump to explain his “executive privilege” response to every request in the ongoing defamation case.
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Paul Bleicher @pbleic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Astonishing. RFK Jr. adds 8 members to a 6 member FDA advisory panel. 6 of them were sellers of peptides, and the 7th a compounding pharmacist. In an 8-6 vote with all 8 votes coming from these new panel members, the panel approved 4 peptides against the objections of FDA scientists.
nytimes.com
FDA Panel Supports Lifting Restrictions on Four Peptides (Gift Article)
In an all-day hearing, the agency’s scientists argued against allowing broad access to unproven drugs that the agency had banned three years ago.
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Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 16/07/2026
I didn't think the Greenland discourse could get dumber but clearly I was mistaken.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
When journalists asked me "where we will see the effects of DOGE on outcomes?" one of my responses was "during crises...as long as media connect the dots." Well, dots connected: www.wired.com/story/cdc-cy...
wired.com
The CDC Has a Cyclospora Lab. DOGE Downsized It Last Year
“Based on simple math, these outbreak responses—which require rapid, timely responses—are going to be greatly diminished,” the former CDC lab director tells WIRED.
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
BREAKING NYT: Federal agents around the country were told in recent days that the FBI would no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents — cases that sometimes yield evidence that could be used to prosecute DHS agents implicated in violent encounters.
nytimes.com
Federal Agents Were Told FBI Will No Longer Investigate ICE Confrontations
Senior officials deny such a change is in the works, despite guidance shared with agents around the country in recent days.
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Ben Silverstein ❌👑 @bensilverstein.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Trump's big news is China acquired the publicly available voter file? Bro, DOGE employees took off with our Social Security info on thumb drives.
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Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Big if true.
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Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
so he’s saying his and his party’s total control of all branches of government is illegitimate?
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