sr_toliver

I’m a tenured professor with an endowed chair.

Looking back, I don’t think the freshly minted PhD version of me could land a job in today’s market. I was smart, I was driven — but mostly, I was lucky.

More of us in academia need to admit that.

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

Everyone who studies research methods just had an aneurysm

CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?

Two points:
1) for all the talk of restoring merit, in many cases we are seeing highly qualified people replaced by less qualified White people.
2) Trump and allies have made it harder and harder to explain to students why this is happening.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Without comment.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

just include the link in the main post, y'all. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Oh — new reporting on Pope Leo from El Paso Matters, citing footage they have of yesterday's meeting.

Sounds like the pope was even *more* forceful in urging U.S. bishops to speak out about immigration than first reported.

I mean, that's…not subtle. elpasomatters.org/2025/10/08/e...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago (RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility.

Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying.

All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

She cooked & correct ✅

Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops

Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/u...

I'm genuinely starting to think that the people who say they want to see American's really fight back are really saying they want a specific kind of visible, stereotypical depiction of protest, and have zero zero tolerance for the kind of groundwork it takes to make change happen.

One of the more incredible stories out of LA this year has been how a taco review blog became the best on-the-ground coverage of ICE raids in the city.

They do a dispatch every day, follow-up on the kidnapped people (which almost no media outlet has done), and fact-check government claims.

The FAA is delaying flights at Newark and Denver airports because they haven’t got enough air traffic control. Burbank has zero ATC from 4.30-10pm.

Lots of controllers who aren’t being paid during the government shutdown are calling in sick.

I dunno man, try listening to marginalized people *before* shit goes wrong, and maybe it won't keep being like that

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Illinois and Chicago sue the Trump administration over National Guard deployment The parties are asking a judge to block the Trump administration from federalizing the Illinois National Guard and from sending to Illinois any guard members from other states, including Texas.

The parties are asking a judge to block the Trump administration from federalizing the Illinois National Guard and from sending to Illinois any guard members from other states, including Texas.

I was told not to teach a class on the intellectual histories of Zionism and Anti-Zionism next year - not because they doubted I could teach it fairly, but because it would attract too many politicians scrutinizing the syllabus.

A society where that is a valid fear is no longer fully democratic.

One first step people should do to respond to this is start using the “report a speed trap” function in Apple Maps to report where ICE is operating. Make Apple party to the attempt to protect people.

Resolution of the University of Virginia Faculty Senate (thus not institutional policy and entirely non-binding, but still inspirational): Resolution Opposing the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" WHEREAS the United States Secretary of Education has requested that the University of Virginia enter into a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education", and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions antithetical to the mission and traditions of the University, and WHEREAS the Compact contains provisions which endanger the independence and integrity of the University, and WHEREAS the compact likely violates state and federal law, and infringes upon the constitutional rights of members of the University community, and WHEREAS the University of Virginia exemplifies American academic values of the highest standard, including universal right to free speech and the cultivation of academic freedom; therefore BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia firmly opposes this Compact as written and calls upon Interim President Mahoney and the Board of Visitors to also reject this Compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the University. Feature Date: Friday, October 3, 2025

Reasons to Teach High School English when the World is on Fire

Black girls in advanced academics who write literary analyses about “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Queer kids who call the English Department The Fruit Factory. Allowables and Legacies by Nikki Giovanni.

JD Vance’s post is grade A misogynoir

He’s functionally saying she’s an ungrateful, uppity N word

Anyone: Why are there suddenly so many AHDH diagnoses? Dr. Jen: Same reason there are suddenly more stars after we built telescopes.

The mystery of medical diagnosis!

Say NO to Trump’s loyalty oaths and extortion of our universities!

We will NOT throw our students, faculty, and staff under the bus to comply with undemocratic and partisan ideological agendas.

They're literally grabbing entire apartment buildings worth of people, but we need to go to work and keep nice 🫠

New York Times: "Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference." The White House asked nine top universities to pledge support for President Trump’s agenda to help ensure access to research funding.

IF ANY CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY SIGNS THIS RADICAL AGREEMENT, THEY'LL LOSE BILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING — INCLUDING CAL GRANTS — INSTANTLY.

CALIFORNIA WILL NOT BANKROLL SCHOOLS THAT SELL OUT THEIR STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND SURRENDER ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

They are knocking down doors and dragging screaming kids out into the night. I don't know what to say aside from this is it. This is the goal. They have always wanted to make an example of Chicago and it's not as if they haven't other places & other ways. All of it. This is fascism, plain & simple.

Publisher's Note: Calling now for multi-racial unity against the militarization of America • The TRiiBE We’ve already seen what Trump’s military occupation looks like in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

“We must understand that the unchecked expansion of ICE has given rise to further abuses of power, including the use of military personnel as a way to police American cities led by Black Democrats.”

thetriibe.com/2025/09/publ...

Bonus 180: "Domestic Terrorism" and NSPM-7 The Trump administration is hoping no one notices that, although federal law *defines* "domestic terrorism," it provides no special authorities against anyone whose behavior *meets* that definition.

Federal law doesn't recognize the concept of a "domestic terrorist organization." That hasn't stopped President Trump from trying to use the concept to authorize investigations of (and necessarily suppress) lots of constitutionally protected speech, protest, and advocacy.

Me in today's "One First":

A lot of people outside the military don't realize that the whole "no beards" thing is directed primarily at the many African-Americans who are allowed not to shave because of a common skin condition.