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Robert Richards

@rrichard09.bsky.social

2.8K followers 8.3K following 460 posts

I study how people talk about politics and law and participate in governing their communities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone, not those of my employers or institutions. https://rcrjr.wordpress.com

Videos

Political science 19%

Environmental science 17%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Efrén O. Pérez, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller , and 2 more Efrén O. Pérez, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Timothy D. McBride, David Darmofal

William Adler @williamadler78.bsky.social · 14h

hi this is actually antisemitic

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 15h

Besides linking Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, RFK Jr. now says circumcision is part of the reason why kids are autistic.

"Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it's highly likely because they're given Tylenol. None of this is positive..."

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Reposted by Efrén O. Pérez, Robert C. Richards

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

Twenty-two people in a broad spectrum of the arts and sciences were awarded the MacArthur Foundation fellowship, which comes with an $800,000 stipend.

MacArthur Foundation Announces 2025 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners

Twenty-two people in a broad spectrum of the arts and sciences were awarded the fellowship, which comes with an $800,000 stipend.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Robert C. Richards

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 1d

U.S. Northern Command says that elements of the Texas national guard are now “employed in the greater Chicago area.”

The statement claims that they’ve been deployed to protect ICE and federal property.

U.S. Northern Command &
@USNorthernCmd
X.com
Effective today, elements of the Texas National Guard, under Title 10 authority and command and control of U.S. Northern Command, are employed in the greater Chicago area.
These soldiers are employed to protect U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other
U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property.
For the latest information on our Federal Protection Mission, please see the link below:

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Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 1d

Michigan Avenue right now.

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 9 more Brendan Nyhan, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Rosemary A. Joyce, Joseph Schafer, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Judith Scott-Clayton, Kate Starbird, Greg Linden

Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 1d

he's going to come after you either way, so you might as well act with integrity

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Reposted by Jane E. Fountain, Robert C. Richards

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 1d

What Governor Pritzker is doing is right for his state, but it is vital for the Republic.

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING via AP

Hamas to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, AP sources say, as Israelis to withdraw from majority of Gaza.

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Reposted by Meredith Broussard, Lisa W. Fazio, James Q. Wilson , and 38 more Meredith Broussard, Lisa W. Fazio, James Q. Wilson, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Dorothy Bishop, Anna Nagurney, Brigitte Nerlich, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Gavin A. Schmidt, Jesse H. Kroll, Julie L. Lockwood, Patrick A. Jansen, Joshua S. Weitz, Nicole Dubilier, Jason Stajich, Simon J. Greenhill, Michael A. Clemens, Hugo Mercier, Megan L. Ranney, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, Michael J. Allen, Andrew Curry, Jacob Montgomery, Juan Cole, Kris Inwood, Smith, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Lauren Hersch Nicholas, Victor Galaz, Scott A. Imberman, Sebastian Karcher, Brian Keegan, Ann Bartow, Jack Stilgoe, Ted Temzelides, Christina Pagel, Annalee Newitz, David Darmofal

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 1d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Margaret Mitchell, Colin Murray, Martin Paul Eve , and 11 more Margaret Mitchell, Colin Murray, Martin Paul Eve, Robert Black, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Robert Wolfe, Adrian Vickers, Michael D. McDonald, Ben Rosamond, Tom Stoppard, Anthony Burke, Daxton R. Stewart, Evan Roberts

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 1d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Reposted by Robert Black, Robert C. Richards, Johann N. Neem , and 2 more Robert Black, Robert C. Richards, Johann N. Neem, Banu Özkazanç‐Pan, Magda Teter

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 1d

We aren't on the verge of an authoritarian takeover. We are in the middle of it.

But I worry people don't see the whole scheme. They just pay attention to each new daily outrage. So I went to the Senate floor to explain Trump's plan.

Here's a 🧵of the speech. It's important.

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Reposted by Jennifer A. Richeson, Robert C. Richards

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

Cause the algorithms are increasingly shady and I don’t see much promotion, let me Gift Link this:

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Civil Rights Lawyer Bryan Stevenson on How America’s Story Should Be Told

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Robert Black, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson , and 6 more Robert Black, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson, Silvia Secchi, Bessma Momani, Henry Jones, Rebecca Zorach, Magda Teter, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

My gosh. After the US bombed multiple boats in the middle of the ocean, murdering people on grounds that they were allegedly "carrying drugs," the US Attorney General says "Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take the same approach, President Trump, with Antifa."

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Lesley Bartlett

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 1d

White House officials have held increasingly serious discussions in recent days about President Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th century law that gives the president the power to deploy active-duty troops inside the U.S. for law enforcement purposes

Trump administration officials seriously discussing invoking Insurrection Act, sources say

A decision is not expected to be imminent, one source said, but debate within the administration has shifted recently to more deeply exploring how and when the act might be invoked.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Tom Shakespeare , and 8 more Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Tom Shakespeare, Roger Scott, Jane E. Fountain, Sanford F. Schram, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

If you come for my people, you come through me.

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Eric J. Segall

Rick Hasen @rickhasen.bsky.social · 1d

My New One at MSNBC Opinion on How the Supreme Court Seems Poised to Kill Off What Remains of the Voting Rights Act While Few Pay Attention–With Implications for 2026 Redistricting www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb... @msnbc.com

How the Supreme Court could aid the GOP's redistricting games

If the court rules quickly enough in a key voting rights case, it could allow yet another round of partisan redistricting before the 2026 midterms.

www.msnbc.com

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Robert C. Richards, Ben Tonra , and 1 more Will Jennings, Robert C. Richards, Ben Tonra, R. Daniel Kelemen

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Pritzker: "This guy is unhinged. He's insecure. He's a wannabe dictator. And there's one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump. If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me."

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Reposted by Archon Fung, Brendan Nyhan, Efrén O. Pérez , and 11 more Archon Fung, Brendan Nyhan, Efrén O. Pérez, Sabine Pahl, Matthew Salganik, Mirya R. Holman, Robert C. Richards, Ariadne Vromen, Andrew L. Whitehead, Henry Farrell, Leah Stokes, Raúl Pacheco-Vega, Southern Africa, David Darmofal

Hahrie Han @hahrie.bsky.social · 1d

Totally, completely flabbergasted. #MacFellow

hub.jhu.edu/2025/10/08/h...

Johns Hopkins political scientist Hahrie Han receives MacArthur genius grant

Han, who studies political organizing and collective action and who has led the university's SNF Agora Institute since 2019, among 22 individuals to receive coveted MacArthur Foundation recognition

hub.jhu.edu

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Reposted by Laurent Pech, Robert C. Richards

Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 1d

Children around the world have died because Trump and Musk needlessly destroyed USAID. These are some of their stories.

apnews.com/article/myan...

AP: Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards

The Marshall Project @themarshallproject.org · 1d

A 9-year-old pepper sprayed in handcuffs, crying for her dad. A teenager wrestled to the ground, and another pepper sprayed while waiting for the bus.

All were Black girls hurt by police.

Police Hurt Thousands of Teens Every Year. A Striking Number Are Black Girls.

www.themarshallproject.org

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Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Robert C. Richards, David Murakami Wood , and 1 more Scott L. Greer, Robert C. Richards, David Murakami Wood, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at The Dispatch: DHS says it's illegal to videotape ICE agents. That's not what the courts say. @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social

DHS Says Videotaping ICE Agents Is Illegal. Federal Courts Disagree.

Filming law enforcement serves important goals central to a free republic.

thedispatch.com

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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Norbert Schwarz , and 10 more Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Norbert Schwarz, Stephan Lewandowsky, Patrick Dunleavy, Rosemary A. Joyce, Laurent Pech, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Dean Eckles, Judith Beyer, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 2d

Monstrous.

"federal agents detained nearly every resident of the 130-unit building—including children and babies—placing them in zip ties and separating them by race into vans for more than two hours early Tuesday morning."

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 2d

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Colin F. Camerer , and 12 more Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Colin F. Camerer, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers, Sanford F. Schram, Robert Black, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Michael Jones‐Correa, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 2d

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 2d

Donald Trump’s deployments of the National Guard to American cities “are best understood as an effort to erode the nation’s sense that such use of the military is unacceptable,” Quinta Jurecic argues.

Trump Is Destroying One of America’s Oldest Traditions

America has always had a strong aversion to seeing the military on the country’s streets. That is not stopping the current president.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Kimberly A. Prather, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson , and 4 more Kimberly A. Prather, Robert C. Richards, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman, Daryl Adair, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Colin Woodard

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 2d

This has nothing to do with crime. This is an attempt to crush political dissent.

Never before, in our entire 250 year history, has the military or immigration agents been used like this. It's dystopian, illegal, and it should stop.

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Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 2d

ELWOOD, Ill. (AP) — Texas National Guard troops have arrived at an Army Reserve center south of Chicago ahead of expected deployment.

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Reposted by Steve Peers, Paul Lehmann, Robert C. Richards

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 3d

The same article includes a reference to an @swp-berlin.org paper that does not exist.

There are many ways AI can support research, but just letting it write your articles with fake citations certainly is not the way.

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Reposted by Ugo Panizza, Ian Hall, Lesley A. Hall , and 7 more Ugo Panizza, Ian Hall, Lesley A. Hall, Niels Werber, Robert C. Richards, Frank Kühn, Henry Farrell, Nils Zurawski, Greg Linden, Nicolai von Ondarza

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 3d

And here we go. I never wrote this article, and yet it is cited here.

www.liberalbriefs.com/geopolitics/...

And of course, it sounds so plausible, I seriously checked whether I had forgotten it, or the footnote was slightly wrong.

#AIisnotresearch

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Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Will Jennings, Tom Clark , and 6 more Lisa W. Fazio, Will Jennings, Tom Clark, Michael A. Clemens, Efrén O. Pérez, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards, Mary L. Dudziak, David Darmofal

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 3d

Not happening somewhere else. Here. In America. Right now.

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 3d

CHICAGO (AP) — Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept. Deploying chemical agents near a public school. Handcuffing a Chicago City Council member at a hospital.

apnews.com/article/chic...

Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Activists, residents and elected leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’s third-largest cit...

apnews.com

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