Michele Demak Epstein

I think Americans, blessed with relatively stable government for a long time, assume there is someone, some adult, who will step in and make things right before the President does anything REALLY bad.

There’s not.

New York Times headline: "Trump Is to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One The plan raises substantial ethical issues, given the immense value of the lavishly-appointed plane and the fact that Mr. Trump plans to use it after he leaves office."

The highest paid editors in the world rewrote "Qatar Bribes Trump With" as "Trump Is to Accept" you know the way normal people talk normally

I hate the way media fall back on the word "controversy." MSNBC just called SignalGate a controversy, as if there's a rational debate over whether sharing military secrets with a journalist and your wife is a good or bad thing.

It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement. Trump is about power. The only way he’s going to be stopped is if he’s confronted by some movement that possesses rival power.

Guys, this is David Brooks in the NY Times. If it's like this 90 days into this presidency with people who wouldn't be caught dead saying it last year, imagine it in two years. Something good is happening, we just have to lift everybody up so they can see it.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/o...

Your regular reminder that Republicans in Congress could put a stop to much/all of this any time they wanted. They are enabling authoritarian government.

We've reached the point in our descent into fascism where the Jewish governor's house getting firebombed on Passover by a guy trying to bash his head in with a sledgehammer is overshadowed by the story of the President saying he wants to build foreign gulags for US citizens.

The most important thing you must share today.

Trump is destroying your life savings and ability to make a living for 1 reason: he wants to make us all beggars who bow to him, his donors and his family.

Not sure why @chrismurphyct.bsky.social hasn’t posted this here but can’t be posted enough.

Cory Booker has taken the Senate floor and plans to filibuster as long as he’s physically able to protest the complete disregard for the rule of law by Trump and Musk.

Watch here: www.c-span.org/event/us-sen...

Elon Musk has committed a blatant felony by offering money for votes in order to help Brad Schimel. This is a chainsaw attack on democracy and the rule of law. Musk should be brought to justice immediately. 🧵

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of fuckup imaginable. These people cannot keep America safe.

This Is No Time for the Democrats to Hang Back Some counsel the Democrats to just wait and let the GOP immolate itself. This is horrible advice. Here are some better ideas.

This Is No Time for the Democrats to Hang Back newrepublic.com/article/1925... via @newrepublic.com

Senator Tina Smith said: This is the ultimate dick boss move from Musk - except he isn’t even the boss, he’s just a dick. That was in response to Musk saying “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump's instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Musk responded @SenTinaSmith “What did you get done last week?”

Elon, I hate to break it to you but you aren’t my boss. I answer to the people of Minnesota.

But since you bring it up, I spent last week fighting to stop tax breaks for billionaires like you, paid for by defunding health care for moms and babies

No, but if you’re looking for one, I am aware of a guy you work with that was indicted four times and convicted of thirty-four felonies.

Over 900 political scientists “urge the Administration to reverse course immediately.”
drive.google.com/file/d/1lGk2...

Presidency-ending scandals & total constitutional crisis happening hourly now. We're heading to very dark places.

bsky.app/profile/mcop...

Health Programs Shutter Around the World After Trump Pauses Foreign Aid (Gift Article) Lifesaving treatment and prevention programs for tuberculosis, malaria, H.I.V. and other diseases cannot access funds to continue work.

“Many of those interviewed broke down in tears as they described the rapid destruction of decades of work …

“‘You could open the funding floodgates again tomorrow and you will still have children dying months from now because of this pause,’” one scientist said.

There is no sugar-coating this - just a very sad day for the rule of law in our constitutional democracy. And devastating for the career officials across agencies and in the federal judiciary who devoted years to doing the right thing.

Last time Trump held an event in the Rotunda...

Credit @laurieluvsmolly.bsky.social

President Biden Honors Nation’s Leading Scientists, Technologists, and Innovators | The White House Today, President Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation—our nation’s

Larry Bartels
www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo...

Still writing democracy on my checks.

Annual Meeting Visit the post for more.

Funded conference! Join PRL (Yphtach Lelkes, Sean Westwood, and Shanto Iyengar) in SLC on May 1-2 to discuss new work on democratic attitudes. Grad students/postdocs welcome. This is a small, funded meeting with great papers and discussion. Apply by 12/31
polarizationresearchlab.org/annual-meeti...

What if they just periodically had to sit in their office closets while someone simulated being a shooter in the corridor, like my grade school children do?

Letter to Congress on Supporting the Select Committee on Electoral Reform Dear Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

NEW: 175 leading scholars commend the introduction of the Resolution Establishing the Select Committee on Electoral Reform. The bipartisan task force would study reforms like fusion, proportional representation, and expanding the size of the House. medium.com/@scholarsfor...

Sign on public storage building with lights burnt out in several letters, leaving “Public rage.”

I don’t think it will all fit in there.

Supreme Court justices interrupt female advocates *much* more than male advocates.

osf.io/preprints/so...

Dept considering replacing regular U.S. History survey course with one called "U.S. History, 2024-2024."

On the poli sci job market in American Politics? There's a new job posting for you at the University of South Carolina for a TT assistant prof line in American Politics. I'm on the committee - lmk if you have questions! t.co/sszTULI96r

Duke Sanford School of Public Policy is hiring multiple positions ... Come join us & pls share (I am new to the sky!)

*Ethics + Tech Policy (Asst/Assoc): academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/24895

*3 Asst Profs in multiple policy areas:
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25832

#econsky #academicsky

From Jamie Druckman - opportunity to apply to collect free data!

The Civic Health and Institutions Project, a 50 States Survey (CHIP50) is announcing opportunities to collect free state-level or large national sample public opinion data. More information is available here:
www.chip50.org