Jay Childers
@jaychilders.bsky.social
Always already thinking about rhetoric, politics, & violence. Professor and author. Resister of the end times.
Fellow Kansans: the last day to register to vote for the midterm elections is in four weeks! You have until October 13 to register so you can vote on November 3. Please start reminding folks today. www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterre...
Welcome - Kansas Online Voter Registration
www.kdor.ks.gov
September 15, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Fellow Kansans: the last day to register to vote for the midterm elections is in four weeks! You have until October 13 to register so you can vote on November 3. Please start reminding folks today. www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterre...
Reposted by Jay Childers
Social movement scholar here to comment on No King again. a 🧵:
These protests are important b/c:
1.) as sustained image events, protests offer evidence of continued disapproval of the direction the country is going and disavowal of the country's leadership.
These protests are important b/c:
1.) as sustained image events, protests offer evidence of continued disapproval of the direction the country is going and disavowal of the country's leadership.
The NY Times saves its harshest skepticism for progressives. Instead of being impressed by 3,000+ coordinated protests, NYT dismisses the value of “hitting a number” and asks if No Kings will be “a primal scream that fades into a whimper.”
F off, NY Times. We'll defeat fascism w/o you. (Gift link)
F off, NY Times. We'll defeat fascism w/o you. (Gift link)
A Challenge for ‘No Kings’ Protests, the Third Time Around
www.nytimes.com
March 28, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Social movement scholar here to comment on No King again. a 🧵:
These protests are important b/c:
1.) as sustained image events, protests offer evidence of continued disapproval of the direction the country is going and disavowal of the country's leadership.
These protests are important b/c:
1.) as sustained image events, protests offer evidence of continued disapproval of the direction the country is going and disavowal of the country's leadership.
Glad to see Trump going all-in on owning this failing economy. Only his ego could stop someone from seeing how politically dumb this is.
Trump's signature to appear on paper currency in a first for a sitting president
Dollar bills historically have been signed by the U.S. treasurer and treasury secretary.
www.nbcnews.com
March 26, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Glad to see Trump going all-in on owning this failing economy. Only his ego could stop someone from seeing how politically dumb this is.
The State always wants to control violence to maintain legitimacy. The Trump administration wants to control violence to destroy democracy and make the oligarchs richer. The distinction is important.
January 8, 2026 at 11:22 PM
The State always wants to control violence to maintain legitimacy. The Trump administration wants to control violence to destroy democracy and make the oligarchs richer. The distinction is important.
Watching these idiots destroy the Kansas economy to enact their anti-education ideology is sickening. kansasreflector.com/2026/01/08/g...
GOP legislative leaders enlist former Emporia State president to slash Kansas university budgets • Kansas Reflector
Republican legislative leaders agreed to pay former Emporia State University president Ken Hush $50,000 to spearhead their efforts to slash spending at public universities.
kansasreflector.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Watching these idiots destroy the Kansas economy to enact their anti-education ideology is sickening. kansasreflector.com/2026/01/08/g...
Y’all, let me get this straight. Renewable energy is too disruptive, so we need to stick with oil/gas. But AI is totes cool? It almost seems like well funded lobbyists are the key. 🤷
December 3, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Y’all, let me get this straight. Renewable energy is too disruptive, so we need to stick with oil/gas. But AI is totes cool? It almost seems like well funded lobbyists are the key. 🤷
Reading Trump's posts from this morning, it's important to remember the threat of violence is itself an act of violence.
Trump increasingly appears to be a deteriorating maniac, but he still knows his threats have consequences. That's why he makes them.
Trump increasingly appears to be a deteriorating maniac, but he still knows his threats have consequences. That's why he makes them.
November 20, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reading Trump's posts from this morning, it's important to remember the threat of violence is itself an act of violence.
Trump increasingly appears to be a deteriorating maniac, but he still knows his threats have consequences. That's why he makes them.
Trump increasingly appears to be a deteriorating maniac, but he still knows his threats have consequences. That's why he makes them.
These ad hominem attacks (e.g., snowflakes, Trump Derangement Syndrome, pearl clutching) used to distract people from the reality that the Trump administration is destroying democracy and marching the nation into authoritarianism are next-level political gaslighting.
October 31, 2025 at 4:57 PM
These ad hominem attacks (e.g., snowflakes, Trump Derangement Syndrome, pearl clutching) used to distract people from the reality that the Trump administration is destroying democracy and marching the nation into authoritarianism are next-level political gaslighting.
Tech bro libertarianism may be the death of us all.
Opinion | How Crypto Corrupted America
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Tech bro libertarianism may be the death of us all.
ICE has already spent over $70 million on new weapons this year. Last year, they spent less than $10 million during the same time period. During Trump’s first term, they spent an average of just $8.4 million annually. This seems more important than any ballroom.
October 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
ICE has already spent over $70 million on new weapons this year. Last year, they spent less than $10 million during the same time period. During Trump’s first term, they spent an average of just $8.4 million annually. This seems more important than any ballroom.
I see Fox News is now calling Old, Osawatomie John Brown a “vigilante mass murderer.” Their racist defense of white nationalism grows bolder every day.
October 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I see Fox News is now calling Old, Osawatomie John Brown a “vigilante mass murderer.” Their racist defense of white nationalism grows bolder every day.
The weaker the Trump administration feels the more they will posture strength and grandiosity. The ballroom is nothing. Things are going to get much worse before they can possibly get better. I hope enough people are prepared for that so we can get back onto the path towards a better America.🇺🇸
October 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The weaker the Trump administration feels the more they will posture strength and grandiosity. The ballroom is nothing. Things are going to get much worse before they can possibly get better. I hope enough people are prepared for that so we can get back onto the path towards a better America.🇺🇸
Watching JD Vance act like a soulless partisan hack is disgusting. A month after wanting to ruin people’s lives for expressing schadenfreude at Charlie Kirk’s death, now he’s dismissing the “pearl clutching” response to Young Republicans celebrating rape and laughing about gas chambers. Pathetic.
October 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Watching JD Vance act like a soulless partisan hack is disgusting. A month after wanting to ruin people’s lives for expressing schadenfreude at Charlie Kirk’s death, now he’s dismissing the “pearl clutching” response to Young Republicans celebrating rape and laughing about gas chambers. Pathetic.
The partisan civil war has already begun. The goal is not ideological, it is unassailable power.
Opinion | Trump Is Not Afraid of Civil War. Neither Is Stephen Miller.
www.nytimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The partisan civil war has already begun. The goal is not ideological, it is unassailable power.
Friendly reminder that the “attention” in “Thank you for your attention to this matter” is the point. Trump wants to distract you. From the Epstein files. From the failing economy. From the authoritarian consolidation of power. From his declining health. Stay focused.
October 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Friendly reminder that the “attention” in “Thank you for your attention to this matter” is the point. Trump wants to distract you. From the Epstein files. From the failing economy. From the authoritarian consolidation of power. From his declining health. Stay focused.
Since the rightwing mediasphere is trying to turn John Brown Gun Clubs (JBGC) into the radical left boogeyman, here are a few things to know since I have written about the groups.
September 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Since the rightwing mediasphere is trying to turn John Brown Gun Clubs (JBGC) into the radical left boogeyman, here are a few things to know since I have written about the groups.
Reposted by Jay Childers
This weak, brazen attempt by Stephen Miller both to chill free speech and to set up a premise to criminalize it — and, to be clear, this is the very type of speech most central to First Amendment protections — would be laughably embarrassing if this man did not have the power that he has.
September 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This weak, brazen attempt by Stephen Miller both to chill free speech and to set up a premise to criminalize it — and, to be clear, this is the very type of speech most central to First Amendment protections — would be laughably embarrassing if this man did not have the power that he has.
With all this talk of what is and is not violence (looking at you DHS), seems like a good reminder is in order. And if you didn't know, the World Health Organization has a really solid definition that covers a lot of ground--and does not include video recording law enforcement...
September 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
With all this talk of what is and is not violence (looking at you DHS), seems like a good reminder is in order. And if you didn't know, the World Health Organization has a really solid definition that covers a lot of ground--and does not include video recording law enforcement...
I worry people aren’t taking the Charlie Kirk martyr language seriously. It’s clear many MAGA folks really believe they are fighting a deeply religious battle. This martyr talk will lead to “higher law” arguments that completely dismiss the Constitution.
September 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I worry people aren’t taking the Charlie Kirk martyr language seriously. It’s clear many MAGA folks really believe they are fighting a deeply religious battle. This martyr talk will lead to “higher law” arguments that completely dismiss the Constitution.
Watching Trump go after Kimmel and others is a stark reminder of how disgusting it is when a bully pretends to be the victim. Truly pathetic.
September 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Watching Trump go after Kimmel and others is a stark reminder of how disgusting it is when a bully pretends to be the victim. Truly pathetic.
Reposted by Jay Childers
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
September 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
Reading the comments made by the FCC Chair about Jimmy Kimmel, it really seems this administration does not like free speech or free markets. One worries they may just not like freedom at all.
September 17, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Reading the comments made by the FCC Chair about Jimmy Kimmel, it really seems this administration does not like free speech or free markets. One worries they may just not like freedom at all.
A performative politics that treats ideological opponents as enemies to be destroyed instead of adversaries you are competing with will always tend toward violence. And so much of what passes for politics these days is performative.
September 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A performative politics that treats ideological opponents as enemies to be destroyed instead of adversaries you are competing with will always tend toward violence. And so much of what passes for politics these days is performative.
Doing research on abolition rhetoric and political violence in the U.S., I spend a lot of time each day reading newspapers and speeches from the late 1850s. I really, really wish that didn’t feel so relevant for what is happening today.
September 15, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Doing research on abolition rhetoric and political violence in the U.S., I spend a lot of time each day reading newspapers and speeches from the late 1850s. I really, really wish that didn’t feel so relevant for what is happening today.
If we make it a week without some MAGA nut shooting up a “radical left” college campus, I will be relieved. Trump pouring fuel on the fire and pretty much declaring war on a large swath of the American people seems very not good.
September 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If we make it a week without some MAGA nut shooting up a “radical left” college campus, I will be relieved. Trump pouring fuel on the fire and pretty much declaring war on a large swath of the American people seems very not good.