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Alison Johnson

@aljwriter.bsky.social

310 followers 710 following 52 posts

Can't cook, so I feed folks with words. Taste: Democracy. Bearing witness. Art. Tea. Trees. Feminism. Oh, and movies. #PublicPolicy #FairElections

Videos

Communication & Media Studies 18%

Philosophy 13%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Mark A. Lemley, David R. Miller, Alison Johnson , and 10 more Mark A. Lemley, David R. Miller, Alison Johnson, Samantha Brennan, James Goodwin, Jason Lyall, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Charles T. Mathewes, Virginia Sapiro, Timothy D. McBride, James M. Thomas

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 2d

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

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Alison Johnson @aljwriter.bsky.social · 5d

Great phrasing!! I recently had this experience with some rando guy who wanted me to audience for him, including the expectation that I would take time to look at a picture on his phone on the subject he was talking at me about. Nope. 🙄

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Richard S.J. Tol, Brendan Nyhan , and 26 more Rebecca Solnit, Richard S.J. Tol, Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers, Iain Davidson, Diane Ravitch, Philip Nel, Joseph Schafer, Jane E. Fountain, Alison Phipps, Susan Hyde, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Gerald Friedman, Alison Johnson, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Bessma Momani, Anne Norton, David Murakami Wood, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Mary Jane Curry, Greg Linden, Raúl Pacheco-Vega, Éric Klinenberg, Magda Teter, Sheila R. Foster, David Darmofal

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 9d

I can’t believe I’m watching interviews of city mayors talking about how they are coordinating with other mayors to discuss how to protect their residents FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I know we are “used to it” but it is absolutely insane

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Reposted by Daniel W. Drezner, Alison Johnson, Scott A. Imberman

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 10d

I’m really grateful for Pritzker. But that he’s so good at this also makes clear just how badly most other Democrats are failing to meet the moment.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 10d

In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it?

If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?

Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.

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Reposted by John McLaren, Daniel W. Drezner, Melanie C. Green , and 9 more John McLaren, Daniel W. Drezner, Melanie C. Green, David R. Miller, Gerald Friedman, Alison Johnson, Robert B. Reich, Greg Linden, Simon Lester, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Francesco Nicoli

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 10d

yeah they're just murdering random people on these boats

Michael Paarlberg @mpaarlberg.bsky.social · 10d

I think the Trump admin assumed no one would try to find out who the people on the boats they blew up really were

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 11d

They do not have enough popular support.

So they are trying to outlaw / silence opposition.

And that’s where we are.

Pushing back has never mattered more.

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 12d

"At the end of the day, this may be a show of force, but that’s all it is: a big show. And after a big show, everyone goes home. That’s what I want to see happen here."

I feel like this letter that just went out from Portland Mayor Keith Wilson is pretty good??

A Message from Mayor Wilson

content.govdelivery.com

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Reposted by Juan Cole, Alison Johnson, Virginia Sapiro

Deb Haaland @debhaalandnm.bsky.social · 13d

Military service is about courage and sacrifice. That’s what my father, a Marine, and my mother, a Navy veteran, taught me.

But awarding medals for the massacre at Wounded Knee is cruelty, not honor. And reaffirming them today only deepens the injustice. (1/2🧵)

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Reposted by Nancy Kanwisher, Juliet B. Schor, Steven Farber , and 12 more Nancy Kanwisher, Juliet B. Schor, Steven Farber, Michael J. Prince, Philip Nel, Sanford F. Schram, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Alison Johnson, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Robert B. Reich, Mark Priestley, Peter Stegmaier, Mary Jane Curry, Markus W. Gehring

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 13d

Why do headlines say "norms shattered" when what is meant is "laws broken" or "Constitution violated"?

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

Jason Dogwood 💙 🏳️‍🌈 🌱 @jasondogwood.bsky.social · 14d

Today in 1957, the Little Rock Nine walked through hate with soldiers at their side. Only Ernest Green left that high school with a diploma. The rest were driven out. Now we gut schools, ban truth and call it freedom. The mob never left, it just changed its mask. #Resist

The Little Rock Nine entering school in 1957

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

TVMoJoe @tvmojoe.bsky.social · 16d

So @jimmykimmel.com's first words back tonight--"As I was saying..."-- were an homage to Tonight Show host Jack Paar, who used those words when he returned after walking out on his show in a censorship dispute with NBC. From 65 years ago:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrhQ...

Jack paar returns to the Tonight Show [partial Higher quality footage] (March 7, 1960)

YouTube video by Random TV and News Archives

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele, Norbert Schwarz , and 26 more Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele, Norbert Schwarz, Staffan I. Lindberg, David Lazer, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Richard Price, Michael A. Clemens, Olivier Corneille, Laia Balcells, Efrén O. Pérez, Philip Nel, Ryan Enos, Valerie Mueller, Adam Bonica, Jonathan Hopkin, Aaron Sojourner, Alison Johnson, Amy W. Ando, Sebastian Karcher, Michael Jones‐Correa, Erin O’Donnell, David Murakami Wood, Josh Pasek, Kathleen Kennedy, Peter Gratton, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

Scott L Greer @scottlgreer.bsky.social · 19d

“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”

V-Dem data

When autocratization is reversed: episodes of U-Turns since 1900

The world is in a “wave of autocratization.” Yet, recent events in Brazil, the Maldives, and Zambia demonstrate that autocratization can be halted and reversed. This article introduces “U-Turn” as ...

www.tandfonline.com

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Reposted by Colin F. Camerer, Alison Johnson

Nick Knudsen @nickknudsenus.bsky.social · 19d

Pause your doomscrolling and listen to this story.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel , and 6 more Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel, Laurent Pech, David R. Miller, Alison Johnson, Colm O’Cinneíde, Magda Teter, Manisha Sinha

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 21d

I know it's frustrating when lawyers point out when something the administration is doing is not legal. But responding with "the law doesn't matter anymore" is really unhelpful and defeatist. Clarifying the law is important because it reminds us not to comply in advance and to resist and take action

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Alison Johnson @aljwriter.bsky.social · 22d

“The extended MAGA cinematic universe” - love this wording - it helps me cope with what we are living through. Thank you! 🌷

Reposted by Nicole Dubilier, Alison Johnson, Stacy D. VanDeveer , and 2 more Nicole Dubilier, Alison Johnson, Stacy D. VanDeveer, David Murakami Wood, Stuart White

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 23d

When journalism was cool. And risked everything to challenge power.

Robert Redford on the phone, plus Dustin Hoffman. From All the President’s Men

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

Reposted by Norbert Schwarz, Jonathan A. Eisen, Scott L. Greer , and 12 more Norbert Schwarz, Jonathan A. Eisen, Scott L. Greer, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel, Joseph Schafer, Margaret Johnston, Jonathan Hopkin, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Alison Johnson, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Michael H. Whitworth, Dana R. Fisher, Mark Rice

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29d

Elizabeth Warren on people who say Dems needs to tone down their rhetoric: "Oh, please. Why don't you start with the president of the United States? And every ugly meme he's posted and every ugly word."

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Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Nina Jankowicz, Jan W. Mueller , and 24 more Stephen M. Walt, Nina Jankowicz, Jan W. Mueller, Elizabeth Saunders, Patrick Dunleavy, Scott L. Greer, John Appleby, Joseph Schafer, Gernot Wagner, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Gerald Friedman, Alison Johnson, James Goodwin, Anne Norton, Jason Lyall, Naazneen H. Barma, Alfie Kohn, Simon Lester, Tim Stephens, Christina Pagel, Manisha Sinha, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Timothy D. McBride, David Darmofal

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · Sep 6

This is an actual exchange from a VP who took an oath to defend the constitution and, as a citizen, is expected to abide by the law.

May we one day have accountability for the grotesque lawlessness of this regime.

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Alison Johnson @aljwriter.bsky.social · Sep 3

I call my mammo “Ironing Board Day”. 😉

Reposted by Robert C. Richards, Alison Johnson

Steven Nelson @snelsonus.bsky.social · Sep 3

Great news! The Baltimore Museum of Art is taking “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” which was originally scheduled to take place at the National Portrait Gallery. artbma.org/exhibition/a...

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Reposted by Alison Johnson

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · Sep 3

That’s why we created this worksheet, and why I’m organizing workshops this week, including one on facilitating people’s assemblies.

Mapping Community Defense and Care in Our Neighborhoods

This worksheet can help us prepare for Trump's military interventions at the neighborhood level.

organizingmythoughts.org

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Alison Johnson @aljwriter.bsky.social · Aug 31

The Great Unraveling.

Alison Johnson @aljwriter.bsky.social · Aug 28

And it fits with the way the Occupant has so much gold for his decor - like a seven year old boy’s idea of what being rich looks like. 😒

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Aug 28

i find this image so fascinating. it is both a literal example of authoritarianism but also a second-hand reproduction of the aesthetics of other authoritarian states. it's like a simulacra of authoritarianism whose purpose is to attempt to make the simulacra real.

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Aug 28

This is a real photograph of Washington, DC this week, where the United States president has ordered military occupation in peacetime, and ordered the display of colossal portraits of himself.

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Washington, DC under military occupation in last August 2025, with banners proclaiming the absolute power of the primus inter pares

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Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Alison Johnson, Arlene Stein , and 1 more Kim L. Scheppele, Alison Johnson, Arlene Stein, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · Aug 27

I have found a lot of use for Melinda Cooper’s concept of the anti-social state: a government that exists only to extract wealth and inflict violence, and dismantles all its pro-social and life-enabling functions. www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...

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Reposted by Iain Davidson, Alison Johnson

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · Aug 27

RULE ABOUT AMERICAN FLAGS:

If you burn the fabric part, you're looking at jail.

But it you use the pole part to assault a police officer, you get a presidential pardon, praise, and some cash.

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Reposted by Alison Johnson, W Grant

Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · Aug 27

This report is devastating: "There are no longer ranger-guided tours for school groups at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Ky., which the town’s mayor, James B. Phelps Jr., described as 'a vital education opportunity.'" #NationalParks www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u...

Trump Shrank Staffing of National Parks. See How Many Are Struggling.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Shawn Cole, Melissa Johnson , and 6 more Steve Peers, Shawn Cole, Melissa Johnson, Alan Richardson, Alison Johnson, David Rosnick, Elizabeth Eva Leach, Andrew Rudalevige, Nathan Richardson

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Aug 26

this stuff is such a disgrace. a free citizen of a free country should be ashamed to engage in it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 26

Lori Chavez-DeRemer: "Mr President, I invite you see your big beautiful face on a banner in front of the Department of Labor because you are really the transformational president of the American worker, along with the American flag and President Roosevelt."

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Alvaro M. Bedoya @bedoyausa.bsky.social · Aug 26

Dear journalists:

The President has not fired Lisa Cook. The President is *trying* to illegally fire her.

Your words shape people’s reality. Please be accurate in your reporting.

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