Judith Kafka

I'm sorry to admit that it's somewhat gratifying to read this from folks at highly exclusive institutions.

We were inundated with mailers attacking our city council rep. I did not love how she handled a housing/development issue in my neighborhood and would have been open to voting for a challenger. But the mailers I received were so deeply offensive I could not support that effort.

I agree. And also I do think New Yorkers like myself calling and emailing helps. Statewide Dems need NYC votes. I’m not voting for anyone who fear mongers like this.

Won’t he end up splitting the vote with Eric Adams and helping Mamdani?

It’s so very good. Congratulations, Karen!

I cannot overstate the amount of hateful, ugly campaign material that has arrived in my mail daily for the past few weeks. My city council rep was targeted by terrible forces and I’m so glad to see that she prevailed. Things are looking up for mayor too.

Well ... but it only applies to students with identified disabilities, which is an important subset but also only a subset.

I stand corrected! Thanks.

I think by special education status, not race (but perhaps I'm wrong?). DeVos withdrew the Obama-era dear colleague letter about racial disparities in discipline and Biden never reinstated it. That's what I was referring to.

Again, as this article notes, Biden never actually reinstated the Obama-era guidelines that Trump is supposedly undoing here.

I mean this definitely makes getting rid of the DOE seem like a good idea...

Ooh. I haven’t been following and just looked up the criticisms. Agreed!

Just subscribed to my first substack.

Gentle reminder, naked preference for loyal mediocre white dudes is NOT “affirmative action for white people”

Affirmative Action rewards those who excel under harsh conditions.

The shit Trump is doing rewards Twitter trolls who lick his boots.

Has congress passed a law superseding or eliminating the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961?

Has the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional?

Then why are journalists reporting that Trump and Musk are "shutting down" USAID. They are not authorized to do so.

Any university that voluntarily shutters a DEI program, office or personnel “Because of Trumps Executive Order” is making a PR decision. Not a legal one.

Trumps EO does not change anti discrimination law. If anything, the EO is unlawful.

Universities should treat it that way.

I honestly don't know how those of you who are staying up to the moment on all of this stuff do it. I appreciate you, and rely on you when I pop in here once or twice a day, which is all I can handle. I want to be more active but right now I just can't.

I was led to believe by R.E.M. that I would feel a lot better about this.

Elon Musk’s Team Now Has Access to Treasury’s Payments System Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave Mr. Musk’s representatives at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency a powerful tool to monitor and potentially limit government spending.

I want to spell out the basic reason it’s so dangerous for Elon to have control of the U.S. payments system. It may seem like a technical matter, but the dynamics are simple. 1/x

Exactly.

5. I’m not saying a president can’t mess up our schools, but he can’t do it alone. And
if you’re worried, get involved locally! Call your state legislative reps, run for school board (if you still have one). That’s still where most of the action’s at.

4. Federal courts mostly get involved in school cases to settle questions of if and how local ed policies conflict with constitutional rights (freedom of speech, equal treatment, etc.) and if fed policies infringe on state’s authority.

3. Obama’s sec of ed got a fair amount accomplished without Congress, by offering additional funds through a competitive grant system. Not all states chose to play. By 2015 there was so much bipartisan disdain for this expanded fed role in schooling that Congress passed a law explicitly reducing it.

2. The presidents you might associate with important federal school policy (Johnson, GW) got legislation passed (ESEA, NCLB) giving $ to schools for specific priorities or actions.

To review, a very short and over simplified thread. 1. The US does not have a national education system. Public schools exist because of state constitutions, local school policy changes because of state and district action.

Yup. And I fully recognize that some states are ahead of the game here.

@dominiquejl.bsky.social I’m listening to you sounding super smart on the radio right now. Great job! And hooray to @wnyc.org for giving this exhibition at the Center for Brooklyn History so much air time. Can’t wait to check it out.

This is it. Trump doesn't have the authority to do most of what he lays out in his order, but it won't matter if schools and teachers think they can't teach social history, or acknowledge the humanity of all types of people. Or if states and local school boards follow suit.

Fragrant Chicken Soup with Chickpeas and Vegetables Recipe This substantial soup is zippier than the usual matzo-ball-type golden chicken soup It has a rich tomato base that is laced with fragrant spices – turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, nutmeg and cayen...

Fun thread! This is one of my favorite winter soups. I add lots more turnip than it calls for.

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017...

The ridiculousness of CEO pay is matched only by the ridiculousness of those locks. I have literally stood in a store aisle ordering my products online.