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Allison Tait

@athenais.bsky.social

Thinking about wealth inequality, social reproduction, and how to repair what is crumbling all around us. All in between meals, naps, and conversations with my cats. Dennis I. Belcher Professor of Law at University of Richmond.

5,548 Followers  |  360 Following  |  93 Posts  |  Joined: 23.09.2023
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Posts by Allison Tait (@athenais.bsky.social)

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Whistling at the Edge of Law The whistle is sounding in Minneapolis. The question before the legal profession is whether we will hear it, amplify it, and act accordingly, or instead insist that the ground eroding beneath our feet...

Best read of the day. I so admire this writing.
Whistling at the Edge of Law -- lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...

12.02.2026 18:30 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It was transforming the biggest NFL stage in the world into a sugar cane plantation that did it for me.

Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?

09.02.2026 01:54 β€” πŸ‘ 9224    πŸ” 1767    πŸ’¬ 77    πŸ“Œ 67

this is from biscuit’s new york times profile, taken after she won the national book award for her first mystery thriller, BREAD GIRL

08.02.2026 18:52 β€” πŸ‘ 233    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 4
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Arthur: wrote a critically acclaimed biography of the frères Goncourt several years ago and has been delicately exhausted ever since!

08.02.2026 19:40 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€œAtiles shows how those in power weaponise colonial legality to legitimate the social, economic & political violence they commit against marginalised communities.”

Vanessa JimΓ©nez-Read reviews Crisis by Design by @joseatiles.bsky.social in our new issue.

buff.ly/pPlI9yG @stanfordpress.bsky.social

30.01.2026 14:04 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Agreed, it is a signpost for so much of what is wrong with this moment and it names the people without naming the people. And underscores the absolute indefensibility of their position. It's a great rhetorical move.

08.02.2026 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Just a quick update from the Twin Cities. (Please forgive the unsolicited message). THINGS ARE NOT BETTER IN MINNEAPOLIS. The media is mostly moving on, Trump is focused on other stuff, BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON THE GROUND. More than 2,000 DHS thugs continue to roam the streets, abducting people 24/7, assaulting legal observers with impunity, and routinely denying 1st, 4th, and 5th amendment rights. Drones and helicopters are overhead every day. Hundreds and hundreds of terrified families have not left their homes since mid-December ... relying on the community to bring them food and help with rent and other necessities. (Those people are NOT violent drug cartel sex offending murderers, as DHS would tell you. Most are legal residents or citizens.)  If anything, things have just become more stressful and intractable (think trench warfare as a suitable metaphor): The resistance is better organized and numerous, but DHS has become more clever and better at disguise... and the county sheriff's office is increasingly supporting them . Do not let anyone tell you that Homans (the new person in charge of the occupation) is making anything better. Do not let anyone tell you that 700 ICE agents leaving the city has made much of a difference; the remaining force (again, ~2,000) is still larger than the entire city's police force (which is legally unable to do anything). Please call your congressional reps ... especially if there is any chance the administration might listen to them.

Just a quick update from the Twin Cities. (Please forgive the unsolicited message). THINGS ARE NOT BETTER IN MINNEAPOLIS. The media is mostly moving on, Trump is focused on other stuff, BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON THE GROUND. More than 2,000 DHS thugs continue to roam the streets, abducting people 24/7, assaulting legal observers with impunity, and routinely denying 1st, 4th, and 5th amendment rights. Drones and helicopters are overhead every day. Hundreds and hundreds of terrified families have not left their homes since mid-December ... relying on the community to bring them food and help with rent and other necessities. (Those people are NOT violent drug cartel sex offending murderers, as DHS would tell you. Most are legal residents or citizens.) If anything, things have just become more stressful and intractable (think trench warfare as a suitable metaphor): The resistance is better organized and numerous, but DHS has become more clever and better at disguise... and the county sheriff's office is increasingly supporting them . Do not let anyone tell you that Homans (the new person in charge of the occupation) is making anything better. Do not let anyone tell you that 700 ICE agents leaving the city has made much of a difference; the remaining force (again, ~2,000) is still larger than the entire city's police force (which is legally unable to do anything). Please call your congressional reps ... especially if there is any chance the administration might listen to them.

A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:

08.02.2026 05:06 β€” πŸ‘ 14987    πŸ” 8430    πŸ’¬ 159    πŸ“Œ 311

I hope everyone is still running on the incredible high of the conference but also totally relaxing today and recharging.

That was an incredible experience and I'm already looking forward to the next time!! πŸ’šπŸ’™β€οΈ

08.02.2026 14:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Just another day of Richmond Law faculty making magic happen at the @a-lpe.bsky.social inaugural conference in our town. Love my colleagues! @richmondlaw.bsky.social @lukenorris.bsky.social @marisakabas.bsky.social @erincollins.bsky.social

08.02.2026 14:03 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Writing a History of Marital Privilege in an Age of Retrenchment As the government seeks to erase the past injustices and achievements of marginalized groups, it is worth recalling how those gains were made. Parents, partners, students, and lawyers pursued a more…

A wonderful book and important history about the uses and abuses of marriage.

Writing a History of Marital Privilege in an Age of Retrenchment -- lpeproject.org/blog/writing...

04.02.2026 16:39 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Looking forward to this! Spies and state intelligence seen three ways with a great set of papers.

30.01.2026 00:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If Senate Republicans refuse to strip out the DHS bill to put real constraints on ICE β€” and hold hostage the vast majority of government funding β€” then Republicans are complicit in the chaos and own the potential government shutdown.

It’s time to stop ICE’s violence.

27.01.2026 14:23 β€” πŸ‘ 2400    πŸ” 520    πŸ’¬ 266    πŸ“Œ 34
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An Open Letter to the Minnesota Law Community Seventy-two University of Minnesota Law faculty address the federal government's ongoing campaign of fear, intimidation, and violence against Minnesotans.

An Open Letter to the Minnesota Law Community -- lpeproject.org/blog/an-open...

27.01.2026 14:35 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Those are definitely all words

25.01.2026 01:25 β€” πŸ‘ 667    πŸ” 54    πŸ’¬ 47    πŸ“Œ 1
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Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.

Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.

25.01.2026 00:35 β€” πŸ‘ 17383    πŸ” 8040    πŸ’¬ 1321    πŸ“Œ 1411
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This is really something. Mark Warner, one of the more moderate and cautious senators in the Dem caucus, says he'll vote No on ICE funding:

25.01.2026 00:30 β€” πŸ‘ 6822    πŸ” 1227    πŸ’¬ 195    πŸ“Œ 70
Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti
Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti

β€œWe are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.

I do not throw around the β€˜hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. 

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti β€œWe are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the β€˜hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."

25.01.2026 00:43 β€” πŸ‘ 24940    πŸ” 12871    πŸ’¬ 200    πŸ“Œ 448
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The Time Has Come to Shutter the World Economic Forum Katharina Pistor recounts how the annual Davos gathering has served as a platform for anti-democratic deal-making.

The Time Has Come to Shutter the World Economic Forum by Katharina Pistor @projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/OCtRKaA

25.01.2026 00:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Offshore Dreaming The never-ending fantasy of deregulation and "discovery"

Offshore Dreaming. A brief look into where we are both in terms of national status and national identity as a tax haven.
Read more πŸ‘‡πŸ» open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

14.01.2026 14:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Six lessons from six months on Substack What you like and what I've learned

Prof. @athenais.bsky.social recently celebrated six months on her Substack titled "Everyone Inherits Something." Tait's forthcoming book, The House That Family Money Built, will release later this year. Follow her journey with the other 1k+ followers! allisontait.substack.com/p/six-lesson...

13.01.2026 18:40 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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From an email to one of our faculty members....

Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!

06.01.2026 20:15 β€” πŸ‘ 2782    πŸ” 1028    πŸ’¬ 128    πŸ“Œ 451

Here we go πŸ˜’

07.01.2026 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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What about the slayer rule? Rob Reiner's estate, bars to inheriting, and the perpetuation of vulnerability

The slayer rule may seem like common sense. But it bears revisiting and reviewing. And, at the end of the day, the rule may only be useful insofar as it shines a light on family violence and provides a reminder that prevention resources are crucial.
open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

07.01.2026 14:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Kitchen Inequality What lessons a holiday baking show can teach us about life

Are you watching Next Level Baker?

Imagine my surprise and dismay when I started watching this holiday baking concoction only to discover that it is a dramatic re-enactment of how economic inequality works masquerading as a baking show.

open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

17.12.2025 13:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Planning the Perfect Trust Reveal What to make of the new trust reveal trend

Trust Reveal Parties > The whole showcase showdown quality strongly underscores that having family money is a game of chance and inheriting money is like winning a sweepstakes.

Read on for the good, the bad, and the totally obnoxious about trust reveals
open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

10.12.2025 13:03 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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LPE 2.0: A New Association to Meet the Times As the Trump administration attempts to suppress critical inquiry and operate outside of conventional legal boundaries, the work of LPE scholars, organizers, and practitioners has never been more…

LPE 2.0: A New Association to Meet the Times -- lpeproject.org/blog/lpe-2-0...

08.12.2025 15:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Absolutely huge, you’re right!

03.12.2025 22:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Is Everyone Upper Poor? Why $140,000 is the new $32,000

Last week, people were outraged by a post claiming β€œthe real poverty line is $140,000.” Despite the bold claim, many agreed with the underlying idea -the cost of basic self-sufficiency for a family of four is significantly higher than the government thinks it is open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

03.12.2025 13:58 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Bank of Mom and Dad what's wrong with a little financial aid?

New post today: The Bank of Mom and Dad. πŸ“¬πŸ“¬πŸ“¬

Chances are pretty good you’ve had at least a one dealing with this bank; recent studies show 50% of parents in the United States subsidize their adult children, giving them on average $1,500/month.

Is this a problem?
open.substack.com/pub/allisont...

19.11.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Fall 2025 Law Review Symposium | The University and Democracy | School of Law

agenda here: www.bu.edu/law/engageme...

12.11.2025 13:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0