SUPoliSci

Is a dollar vibe shift under way? This episode breaks down how the greenback impacts trade, investment, national security, and the average consumer, as we try to answer the question: is the dollar having a vibe shift?

With apologies to Amy Poehler, *this* was a "Good Hang", with Josh Lipsky and Jessie Yin.

We discuss:
- What's going on with USD?
- Will the euro or won't it?
- The Warsh-dollar bounce

...and lots more.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/commentary/p...

A year into new Trump term, civility takes a colossal hit The president includes coarse language, taunts, insults and threats in his daily communications.

“Who gets the benefit of decent treatment and behavior in our society? Who is owed basic respect? If we focus on that as the goal, then perhaps it'll make it less imperative that we engage in tit for tat.” says Professor Keith Bybee. @supolisci.bsky.social https://wbur.fm/4sY15tM

AI 'slop' is transforming social media - and there's a backlash Social media has been flooded with fake, AI-generated images and videos. But will the majority of users actually care?

Does it matter if video on your social feed is real or not? Professor @emilythorson.bsky.social says it depends. “If someone is on the platform to learn about a topic or to connect with community members, then they might perceive AI-generated content as more problematic.” @supolisci.bsky.social

Congratulations to Maxwell alum Mike Tirico '88 B.A. (PSc) on calling his first Super Bowl game! @supolisci.bsky.social

Understanding the vibe shift on the dollar Trade tensions and dollar uncertainty pushed gold to record highs last week, reflecting rising skepticism about the currency's stability.

Jessie Yin, Bart Piasecki and I with some thoughts on what is going on with the dollar (for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social GeoEconomics Center)

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econog...

Some more of my dollar thoughts below in this good @AP piece, "Seeking shelter from Trump’s fury, U.S. trade partners reach deals with each other"

Link: apnews.com/article/trum...

Erin Hern Shares Expertise on Gender Discrimination for OECD Erin Hern Shares Expertise on Gender Discrimination for OECD

How should gender discrimination be measured when countries have overlapping legal systems?

Erin Hern, associate professor of political science, served as a lead discussant for the OECD as it prepares updates to its Social Institutions and Gender Index, a key global benchmark.

Yet another data point supporting the view that there is change afoot in the global financial system.

I know it's trite, but this is all "how to dismantle a reserve currency."

The dollar as the go-to haven in times of crisis, well, that appears (again) to be shaky.

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Europeans have trillions of dollars worth of leverage on the U.S. economy. They're not likely to use it. A selloff of Treasurys would hurt the U.S. economy. But it would hurt the Eurozone, too.

I spoke to @marketplace.org about the possibility of a flash sale of Treasuries by European countries, you know, as you do when the NATO alliance hangs in the balance.

www.marketplace.org/story/2026/0...

This is required reading – like everything else that @danielmcdowell.bsky.social writes on the topic.

Congrats to Alice!!!! Gettysburg is getting a great scholar, teacher, and colleague!!!

Groenland | Bras de fer entre Américains et Européens Donald Trump n’en démord pas : il a « besoin » du Groenland. Et les Européens ne devraient pas répondre à ses menaces sur de nouveaux droits de douane en imposant leurs propres surtaxes, a-t-il averti...

“The executive power is less hampered than we normally see, but that doesn't mean that there are no constraints” to the US acquiring Greenland, says Professor @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social. @supolisci.bsky.social

How to dismantle a reserve currency For the economic tumult that the dollar has faced over the last eighty years, its political foundations have remained steadfast—until now. As the political order on which the dollar system rests grows...

see: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...

Proofs are in for Glyn Morgan's prescient *Rise and Fall of American Europe*. Books due in late spring. Glyn analyses exactly the political choices that European leaders are now confronting with Trump's aggression over Greenland.

Opération américaine au Venezuela | À quoi s’attendre de la Russie et de la Chine ? La capture du président vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro par les forces américaines et la volonté de mainmise de Washington sur le pays latino-américain et la région dans son ensemble modifient la donne pou...

“This is the fourth time in a few years that Russia has seen an ally undermined and has to swallow the snake,” says Professor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social. @supolisci.bsky.social

MAGA Accused The Left Of 'Celebrating' Charlie Kirk's Death. Guess What They Did After ICE Killed Someone? Even Tucker Carlson is unsettled by the response to Renee Good's death.

“This is not ideological conservatives versus ideological liberals. This is not even Democrats versus Republicans. What it is is something much, much more unwieldy and difficult to understand,” says Professor Mark Brockway. @supolisci.bsky.social

Aerial view of Hall of Languages at Syracuse University, with people walking on pathways and light snow covering the grass.

Students collaborating at tables in a busy university library study area, with others writing on a whiteboard in the background.

A group of students collaboratively working around laptops.

Welcome back for the spring semester, #SyracuseU! 🍊

Maxwell School Commemorates US’ 250th Anniversary With Course Offered Free to the Public Maxwell School Commemorates US’ 250th Anniversary With Course Offered Free to the Public

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, @MaxwellSchool is launching USA@250

The free, public lecture series will explore American democracy, history, and society through weekly Spring 2026 sessions.

🚨 New article alert 🚨 @supolisci.bsky.social prof has a new piece out on NATO and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We Asked Actual Historians About Trump's New Plaques — And They Have THOUGHTS "The newly installed plaques are the equivalent of drawing mustaches on other people’s portraits."

Professor Mark Brockway notes that the plaques may seem ridiculous and are certainly a ham-fisted approach to pushing a message. “But they really are a way to reaffirm the narrative that everything that’s wrong in the world is because of somebody else,” he says. @supolisci.bsky.social

🚨New article alert 🚨 SU PoliSci PhD candidate @meddhiah.bsky.social has a new essay out in QMMR on a network based sampling method.

🚨New article alert🚨Check out the latest from our colleague @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social and co-authors on the state system.

Trump ramps up hard-line rhetoric against immigrants from 'sh*thole' countries US President Donald Trump reignited controversy by openly repeating his past slur about “shithole countries” at a Pennsylvania rally on Wednesday, underscoring a White House push to justify sweeping…

For Trump, it doesn't matter whether an immigrant obeys the law, or owns a business, or has been here for decades, says Professor Mark Brockway. “They are caught in the middle of Trump's fight against an invented evil enemy.” @supolisci.bsky.social

It took three days of work, but iteration two of my Geoeconomics & Statecraft PhD seminar is ready to launch in Spring 2026.

Syllabus link: drive.google.com/file/d/1u3p6...

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"Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail" is now available through @mitpress.bsky.social in the @belfercenter.bsky.social Studies in International Security series!

See below for contents, contributors, and discount codes.

@managingtheatom.bsky.social

🚨New book alert🚨 Congrats to our colleague & @isanet.bsky.social President @audieklotz.bsky.social on the release of the 2nd edition of her seminal book on Norms in International Relations!

Why Japan's economic woes spark global market concern – DW – 12/08/2025 Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi wants to spend big to boost sluggish growth, despite the country's already huge debt load. With bond yields already rising, a sudden spike could shock the financial world wel...

Professor Margarita Estévez-Abe thinks most of the items on Takaichi's budget will do little to accelerate growth. “I don't think Takaichi's budget, or anything she has stated so far, addresses any of the core underlying factors,” she say. @supolisci.bsky.social

6 myths about rural America: How conventional wisdom gets it wrong Many people understand rural America through stereotypes. Two scholars who study rural communities bust 6 of those myths, complicating the conventional wisdom.

Check out my article in the @us.theconversation.com today, co-authored with Tim Slack.

6 myths about rural America: How conventional wisdom gets it wrong

theconversation.com/6-myths-abou...

Call for Applications: Apply for the 2026 APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) | Deadline: January 25, 2026 RBSI 30th Anniversary Alumni Reflections Nikol Alexander-Floyd, JD, PhD Associate Professor, Rutgers University RBSI Class of 1989 " enabled me to have a

Apply now for the 2026 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute by January 25th! The 2026 institute will be held May 24 – June 25, at Duke University. Hear from past #RBSI scholars about program impact on research and graduate pathways. buff.ly/0pLifGl

Apply Now! buff.ly/PqPljks

Exterior view of the historic Syracuse University Hall of Languages on a sunny day with green trees in the foreground.

Today is Giving 'CUSEday! 🍊

When the #SyracuseU community comes together, we create lasting change for students and our Orange family 🧡

Make an impact: https://go.syr.edu/mc/giving-tuesday