Aidan Milliff
@aidanmilliff.com
Political scientist
https://www.aidanmilliff.com
https://www.aidanmilliff.com
🚨 New in @bjpols.bsky.social :
“Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records.”
By Bertolotti, Milliff, Christia & Jadbabaie.
We use 12 billion call records from Yemen to measure the civilian consequences of drone warfare.
1/6
“Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records.”
By Bertolotti, Milliff, Christia & Jadbabaie.
We use 12 billion call records from Yemen to measure the civilian consequences of drone warfare.
1/6
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🚨 New in @bjpols.bsky.social :
“Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records.”
By Bertolotti, Milliff, Christia & Jadbabaie.
We use 12 billion call records from Yemen to measure the civilian consequences of drone warfare.
1/6
“Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records.”
By Bertolotti, Milliff, Christia & Jadbabaie.
We use 12 billion call records from Yemen to measure the civilian consequences of drone warfare.
1/6
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
NEW -
Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records - https://cup.org/4qy0az4
- Paolo Bertolotti, @aidanmilliff.com, Fotini Christia & Ali Jadbabaie
#OpenAccess
Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records - https://cup.org/4qy0az4
- Paolo Bertolotti, @aidanmilliff.com, Fotini Christia & Ali Jadbabaie
#OpenAccess
November 4, 2025 at 11:10 AM
NEW -
Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records - https://cup.org/4qy0az4
- Paolo Bertolotti, @aidanmilliff.com, Fotini Christia & Ali Jadbabaie
#OpenAccess
Estimating the Impact of Drone Strikes on Civilians Using Call Detail Records - https://cup.org/4qy0az4
- Paolo Bertolotti, @aidanmilliff.com, Fotini Christia & Ali Jadbabaie
#OpenAccess
The recording industry in Kenya is legit fascinating. There was a period of time in maybe the 70s when labels were popping up at the *county* level, recording folk songs on 45s for hyper-local distribution.
Very pleased to receive my copy of this new, important volume, in which I offer a brief history of musical platformization in Kenya.
Oh and this book is *open access*! Starting next week you can download a free copy from Luminos — luminosoa.org/books/e/10.1...
Oh and this book is *open access*! Starting next week you can download a free copy from Luminos — luminosoa.org/books/e/10.1...
October 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The recording industry in Kenya is legit fascinating. There was a period of time in maybe the 70s when labels were popping up at the *county* level, recording folk songs on 45s for hyper-local distribution.
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
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...
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
October 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
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...
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...
Southside Weekly holding strong as Chicago's best reported local paper (with the Guardian in ironic second place).
This South Side Weekly report on the Chicago building raid is well worth reading. Most striking to me are the indications of collusion between federal authorities and the building owner and management to effect a mass eviction at the blighted property. southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
October 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Southside Weekly holding strong as Chicago's best reported local paper (with the Guardian in ironic second place).
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
Despite the grim topic, this is a very good paper: monuments that signal white supremacy can substitute performative violence and thus reduce it.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Political Symbols and Social Order: Confederate Monuments and Performative Violence in the Post-Reconstruction U.S. South | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
Political Symbols and Social Order: Confederate Monuments and Performative Violence in the Post-Reconstruction U.S. South
www.cambridge.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Despite the grim topic, this is a very good paper: monuments that signal white supremacy can substitute performative violence and thus reduce it.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Very short summary of this paper:
September 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Very short summary of this paper:
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
Very excited that my paper with @katakeith.bsky.social is now out in @polanalysis.bsky.social. We investigate whether LLMs actually follow the instructions/definitions provided in codebooks, propose some diagnostics, and release a new evaluation dataset.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Codebook LLMs: Evaluating LLMs as Measurement Tools for Political Science Concepts | Political Analysis | Cambridge Core
Codebook LLMs: Evaluating LLMs as Measurement Tools for Political Science Concepts
www.cambridge.org
September 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Very excited that my paper with @katakeith.bsky.social is now out in @polanalysis.bsky.social. We investigate whether LLMs actually follow the instructions/definitions provided in codebooks, propose some diagnostics, and release a new evaluation dataset.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
It's important to remember the 🐺 Wolf Number 🐺
In 2021 @today.yougov.com found that 12% of Americans said they'd beat a wolf in an unarmed fight ⁉️
When you see a survey response split 85/15, remember: 12% of people will say literally anything on a survey.
today.yougov.com/society/arti...
In 2021 @today.yougov.com found that 12% of Americans said they'd beat a wolf in an unarmed fight ⁉️
When you see a survey response split 85/15, remember: 12% of people will say literally anything on a survey.
today.yougov.com/society/arti...
September 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
It's important to remember the 🐺 Wolf Number 🐺
In 2021 @today.yougov.com found that 12% of Americans said they'd beat a wolf in an unarmed fight ⁉️
When you see a survey response split 85/15, remember: 12% of people will say literally anything on a survey.
today.yougov.com/society/arti...
In 2021 @today.yougov.com found that 12% of Americans said they'd beat a wolf in an unarmed fight ⁉️
When you see a survey response split 85/15, remember: 12% of people will say literally anything on a survey.
today.yougov.com/society/arti...
Modest #APSA2025 proposal:
Move all panels, receptions, meetings, etc. to Stanley Park. Just describe the tree you are meeting under, and count on everyone to find you.
Move all panels, receptions, meetings, etc. to Stanley Park. Just describe the tree you are meeting under, and count on everyone to find you.
September 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Modest #APSA2025 proposal:
Move all panels, receptions, meetings, etc. to Stanley Park. Just describe the tree you are meeting under, and count on everyone to find you.
Move all panels, receptions, meetings, etc. to Stanley Park. Just describe the tree you are meeting under, and count on everyone to find you.
🤔
(I really don't think India is interested in the opportunity to be a treaty ally with the US if they have to drop historic partners who aren't currently imposing tariffs on their exports to do so)
(I really don't think India is interested in the opportunity to be a treaty ally with the US if they have to drop historic partners who aren't currently imposing tariffs on their exports to do so)
September 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
🤔
(I really don't think India is interested in the opportunity to be a treaty ally with the US if they have to drop historic partners who aren't currently imposing tariffs on their exports to do so)
(I really don't think India is interested in the opportunity to be a treaty ally with the US if they have to drop historic partners who aren't currently imposing tariffs on their exports to do so)
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
So far during the second Trump administration, this puts the US military at:
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
Rubio’s tweet announcing a US military strike somewhere in the Caribbean…if I’m not mistaken, first combat action by SOUTHCOM since the Clinton administration called off the invasion of Haiti three decades ago.
September 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
So far during the second Trump administration, this puts the US military at:
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (in March-April)
—65+ air strikes in Somalia
—5 air strikes and 2 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—1 night of B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
—1 air strike in the Caribbean
Syllabus plug! Here's what I assign on how to give feedback (of which peer reviews are a special type, imo)
September 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Syllabus plug! Here's what I assign on how to give feedback (of which peer reviews are a special type, imo)
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
A veteran US Navy SEAL reflects on Gaza dbarkhuff.substack.com/p/i-should-b...
August 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A veteran US Navy SEAL reflects on Gaza dbarkhuff.substack.com/p/i-should-b...
🚨 Just accepted at @bjpols.bsky.social!
Paolo Bertolotti, Fotini Christia, Ali Jadbabaie, and I use 12 billion Yemeni cellphone records to study the effects of U.S. drone strikes on civilian mobility and displacement.
We Find:
🧵: 1/3
Paolo Bertolotti, Fotini Christia, Ali Jadbabaie, and I use 12 billion Yemeni cellphone records to study the effects of U.S. drone strikes on civilian mobility and displacement.
We Find:
🧵: 1/3
August 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🚨 Just accepted at @bjpols.bsky.social!
Paolo Bertolotti, Fotini Christia, Ali Jadbabaie, and I use 12 billion Yemeni cellphone records to study the effects of U.S. drone strikes on civilian mobility and displacement.
We Find:
🧵: 1/3
Paolo Bertolotti, Fotini Christia, Ali Jadbabaie, and I use 12 billion Yemeni cellphone records to study the effects of U.S. drone strikes on civilian mobility and displacement.
We Find:
🧵: 1/3
How amazing is ChatGPT! I just tried turning publishers' citation manual PDFs into .bst files.
It's a super efficient way to make all your LaTeX citations show up like this:
The future is amazing.
It's a super efficient way to make all your LaTeX citations show up like this:
The future is amazing.
August 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
How amazing is ChatGPT! I just tried turning publishers' citation manual PDFs into .bst files.
It's a super efficient way to make all your LaTeX citations show up like this:
The future is amazing.
It's a super efficient way to make all your LaTeX citations show up like this:
The future is amazing.
A bit buried in the text here, but: UChicago is apparently pausing/ending graduate training in one of the best South Asian Studies departments in the country.
This isn’t an impoverished regional school – this is the University of Chicago. Devastating.
August 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM
A bit buried in the text here, but: UChicago is apparently pausing/ending graduate training in one of the best South Asian Studies departments in the country.
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
📢🗣️...Are you a graduate students about to go on the market? Or perhaps you're just interested in research presentations. If so, check out my free two-day workshop:
The Research Presentation as Storytelling
The Research Presentation as Storytelling
August 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM
📢🗣️...Are you a graduate students about to go on the market? Or perhaps you're just interested in research presentations. If so, check out my free two-day workshop:
The Research Presentation as Storytelling
The Research Presentation as Storytelling
Very excited that FSU is hiring this year. I am not on any of the committees, but I'm happy to talk to anyone about what it's like to work at FSU. Drop me a note, or find me at APSA next month!
Florida State University’s polisci dept just posted 3 jobs: a junior job in American political behavior and open rank jobs in American public policy and American public law/judicial politics. The Polisci dept here is a great place to work. Come join us!
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
August 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Very excited that FSU is hiring this year. I am not on any of the committees, but I'm happy to talk to anyone about what it's like to work at FSU. Drop me a note, or find me at APSA next month!
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
Florida State University’s polisci dept just posted 3 jobs: a junior job in American political behavior and open rank jobs in American public policy and American public law/judicial politics. The Polisci dept here is a great place to work. Come join us!
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
August 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Florida State University’s polisci dept just posted 3 jobs: a junior job in American political behavior and open rank jobs in American public policy and American public law/judicial politics. The Polisci dept here is a great place to work. Come join us!
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
Happy to answer questions if you have them.
I agree Chat GPT is "like having a team of PhD-level experts in your pocket" in that I usually spell traveling as travelling (with three Ls)
August 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I agree Chat GPT is "like having a team of PhD-level experts in your pocket" in that I usually spell traveling as travelling (with three Ls)
I'm looking forward to presenting on this panel, which I'm sure will not be as ominous as our title makes it sound!
Theme Panel: Experiments on Violence and Political Behavior #APSA2025
Theme Panel: Experiments on Violence and Political Behavior
Co-sponsored by Division 21: Conflict Processes In-Person Full Paper Panel Participants: (Chair) Francesca Parente, Christopher Newport University (Discussant) Carly Nicole Wayne, Washington University in St. Louis (Discussant) Lauren E Young, University of California, Davis Session Description: This panel brings together four papers that answer causal questions about violence and political behavior using experimental methods, including two survey experiments, one field experiment, and one lab-in-the-field experiment.
politicalsciencenow.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I'm looking forward to presenting on this panel, which I'm sure will not be as ominous as our title makes it sound!
What am I missing? It seems like this graphic shows that Mamdani also got ~7pp more of the first-choice vote than Cuomo. Doesn't that mean Mamdani would have won without ranked choice...even assuming that *zero* Lander voters made a strategic adjustment?
The Democratic primary for mayor of New York City in June was the second major election in which the city used ranked-choice voting. Zohran Mamdani ultimately benefited from the system in defeating Andrew Cuomo, especially after his cross-endorsement with Brad Lander, data shows. nyti.ms/47hfyZr
August 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
What am I missing? It seems like this graphic shows that Mamdani also got ~7pp more of the first-choice vote than Cuomo. Doesn't that mean Mamdani would have won without ranked choice...even assuming that *zero* Lander voters made a strategic adjustment?
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
Here's the letter that NSF sent UCLA last week about cutting its research funding
NSF says UCLA is doing affirmative action by asking applicants' their zip codes, family income and what HS they went to, and that they can discuss race in personal statements
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NSF says UCLA is doing affirmative action by asking applicants' their zip codes, family income and what HS they went to, and that they can discuss race in personal statements
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
August 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Here's the letter that NSF sent UCLA last week about cutting its research funding
NSF says UCLA is doing affirmative action by asking applicants' their zip codes, family income and what HS they went to, and that they can discuss race in personal statements
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
NSF says UCLA is doing affirmative action by asking applicants' their zip codes, family income and what HS they went to, and that they can discuss race in personal statements
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Aidan Milliff
I've been at Georgetown for ~23 years. I've been on the PhD admission committee for the Government Department for well more than half of that time.
AMA.
AMA.
August 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I've been at Georgetown for ~23 years. I've been on the PhD admission committee for the Government Department for well more than half of that time.
AMA.
AMA.