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Astra Taylor
@astradisastra
director of documentaries, writer of books and essays, retired fuzz guitar Bluesky astra.bsky.social
Joined September 2011
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    My 2023 Massey lectures and book, THE AGE OF INSECURITY, explore how seemingly disparate crises—rising inequality and declining mental health, the ecological emergency, and the threat of authoritarianism—originate from a social order built on insecurity.
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    Then why should they have to pay for chemo?
    Let me be clear: No one should have to pay for coronavirus testing or treatment.
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    My husband Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel just sent out a message in support of Bernie Sanders and I endorse his endorsement.
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    I am so fucking disgusted right now A bipartisan bill just passed in the senate that: 1) kills student debt relief & makes people pay interest cancelled due to the pandemic payment pause 2) reinstates public service loan forgiveness for 260,000 people (!!!) assholes.
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    We’d be in a much stronger position right now if mainstream Democrats had taken a common sense stand for First Amendment principles instead of piling on undergraduate standing up for Palestine. Oops.
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    Hi from northern Italy where all the trains are canceled or seriously delayed because the country is on strike for a free Palestine.
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    My reaction to today's long-awaited news. This is a stepping stone, not the destination. A President who wanted to do NOTHING had to do something. Up to 20 million people could be debt free. Hopefully some of them will join the fight for everyone else. Let’s. Keep. Going. 🧵
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    Today she voted with the Republicans to strip working class people of student debt relief.
    Teams get shit done, so I’m teaming up with Jared Golden and Mary Peltola to rebuild the Blue Dogs into something useful for working people. We know who we are, and we know how to win. Congress needs more people like us, and a lot fewer weirdos with white nationalist friends.
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    Student debt cancellation is already means tested. If you have student debt, it means you need cancellation. Sometimes shit is simple.
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    Today I've been thinking of 2020 less as the year of unexpected shocks & catastrophes more as the year predictions came true. For decades concerned people have studied the likelihood of many bad things happening & proposed intelligent ways to prevent or mitigate them. A thread:
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    Today the NYT editorial board came out against student debt cancellation. They are so desperate for arguments opposing relief they cite Betsy DeVos twice. It's so awful we annotated it. I advise you read our version. It has facts, sass and a moral core.
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    Replying to @astradisastra
    Once again, this is likely heading for a Biden veto. Good! But we can't be complacent. Because this is the kind of thing we can expect to see more of 1) Biden must use his full legal authority to deliver on his promise to cancel debt 2) Debtors need to keep getting organized
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    Are you someone who will benefit from the student loan relief announced today? If so, please fight for others who are still crushed by debt. That's how we got this far. Folks staying to fight, even after their loans were erased. Because no one's free, until everyone is free.
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    FYI the movement for student debt relief actually began with students who pursued technical/vocational degrees, but you wouldn’t know that since you went to Reed.
    Expansions of student debt forgiveness need to be matched dollar-for-dollar with investments in career & technical education. I can’t support the first without the other. The severe shortage of trades workers needs to be seen & treated as a national priority. It’s about respect.