The Poli Psych

This video filmed by Ben Luhmann shows the moment a federal agent sprayed chemical irritants directly into a man's face in south Minneapolis.

Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.

The physical weight of Trumpism That heaviness you feel, that drag on your mental health, that drain on your emotional energy and lethargy in the face of world events, like yesterday, is real.

That heaviness you feel after events like yesterday is real. We've all accumulated a lot of mental and emotional weight in the first year of Trump's disastrous presidency. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-physic...

Column | Defuse political tension in your family with one simple question This research-backed technique can increase open-mindedness and reduce political polarization, improving conversations at family gatherings and in daily life.

Psychologists have found a way to disarm political opponents and detoxify conversation.

This research-backed technique can increase open-mindedness and reduce political polarization, improving dialogue at gatherings and in daily life.

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Why left-wing people are sadder (but activists are happier)

Opinion | What Autocrats Want From Academics: Servility In 1931, Italian scholars were made to take loyalty oaths. Will that happen to us?

"On October 8, 1931, a law went into effect requiring every Italian university professor to sign an oath pledging their loyalty to the government of Benito Mussolini. Out of over 1,200 professors in the country, only 12 refused. All of them were immediately fired." www.chronicle.com/article/what...

Attacking knowledge, information, learning, science, libraries, schools: to keep people clueless and compliant.

Fight back: read, speak out, communicate, learn, and share with others.

An awesome woman named Beth Kelley shared this with me and wanted me to share it with you.

If you're wondering what we, as little people caught in a big web can do, Beth has you covered:

Here is her Advice:

Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance.

Democracy requires your courage.

Illinois Gov Pritzker: "Tyranny requires your fear ... Democracy requires your courage."

Text on graphic: Barriers to Care: Navigating the U.S. Mental Health Crisis. A discussion about the systemic barriers to accessing mental health care, which leave many without critical treatment. Thursday, Feb. 20. 4 p.m. Eastern time. Register at propublica dot org slash events. Image: A woman in a floral blazer stepping through the entryway of a therapist office.

ProPublica found that some of the largest health insurers have created a playbook that prevents people from getting the mental health care they need.

Join us tomorrow, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET for a virtual conversation as we discuss barriers to care. RSVP: https://propub.li/4k4GYWm

Showing Up & Walking Out Two Ways to Make your Point

“Every American can do something—show up, walk out, call, sign up, demonstrate engagement.”

The Musk-Trump axis thrives on chaos and intimidation, but resistance is growing. Thousands protested, DOJ lawyers resigned & NYC officials walked out. Jen Rubin explains.

How to stop Trump’s power grab Trump isn’t inevitable. Here’s a plan to keep democracy intact.

I'm happy to publish something I've been reporting for a while: a guide for how to fight the Trump-Musk power grab and win, with specific advice that you can start acting on *today*.

www.vox.com/politics/399...

“Authoritative reporting” and communication is essential to meet this moment.

Essential reading

Exactly this!

The dividing line issue among Dems is not between progressive & centrist. It's between strong & weak & by extension, between young & old. Time for the institutionalist gerontocracy to move along. Thanks for your service. We need leaders clear about what they are for not just what they're against.

It’s not about Trump supporters. It’s about giving the 75m people who DIDNT VOTE something to vote for

Legitimate discussions on this platform offer that path

Framing makes all the difference:

Fluoride = chemical added to water ❌

Fluoride = naturally occurring water mineral that is important for our health, and supplemented in areas with mineral deficiencies ✅

Greetings! Let’s hope we can find many more and build ourselves a community in this space.

New from my lab, with @clintmckenna.bsky.social ...

Does our brainpower mainly serve a taste for partisan bias?
A heated debate has broken over this question the last few years. We decided to weigh in.

A longish 🧵 Strap in. 1/n
psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...

All too accurate