David Darmofal
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daviddarmofal.bsky.social
David Darmofal
@daviddarmofal.bsky.social

Political scientist. Political behavior + methods. Spatial analysis.
Speaking in a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are my own.

Economics 52%
Political science 27%
Pinned

Both the overall consumer sentiment index & the index of consumer expectations are now at their lowest among Republicans in Trump's second term.
data.sca.isr.umich.edu/fetchdoc.php...
data.sca.isr.umich.edu
NPR @npr.org · 6h
Jim Clyburn's new book, The First Eight, restores the lives of South Carolina's early Black congressmen and shows how their battles during Reconstruction offer lessons, and warnings, for politics today. n.pr/4ohnG12
In a new book, Rep. Jim Clyburn highlights the Black politicians who paved the way for him
Jim Clyburn's new book, The First Eight, restores the lives of South Carolina's early Black congressmen and shows how their battles during Reconstruction offer lessons, and warnings, for politics today.
n.pr
The first official confirmation that Noem herself made the decision not to turn the planes around. A couple hundred men were tortured as a result — and soon after, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Trump admin’s Alien Enemies Act process was a total violation of due process.
BREAKING:

“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
BREAKING:

“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “

Reposted by David Darmofal

WATCH: Pope Leo XIV delivers a four-minute press conference in four languages — a rapid, panoramic moral briefing to the world.

He calls for peace between Israel and Hezbollah, unity among Christians, an end to violence against women, and a spirit of gratitude for Thanksgiving.

Reposted by David Darmofal

While this NYT article pulls punches on Trump's madness, impulsivity, and delusions, it's useful in that it creates space for other articles about Trump's age and clear cognitive and physical decline to follow. Gift link.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com

Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com

Cardinal Dolan & Fox News…

Industry leaders in Ohio are not exactly raving about the effects of Trump & Vance’s tariffs on their businesses.
Tariffs are shaking up Ohio manufacturing
The nonprofit consulting group MAGNET surveyed the state's top manufacturers six months after Trump's tariffs took effect.
www.axios.com
Republican senator now publicly defending Mark Kelly
So, a senior Justice Department official — along with several members of Congress — used the authority of their offices to boost an obviously dubious conspiracy theory accusing a federal employee of a horrific crime.

And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.

www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
How an innocent woman's name was tied to the Jan. 6 pipe bombs
The FBI has ruled the woman out as a suspect in the 2021 plot, sources said, but only after her name circulated on social platforms and a conservative news site.
www.cbsnews.com

Black Catholics in Latin America look to Pope Leo for support
Black Catholics in Latin America look to Pope Leo for support
Members of Black pastoral commissions from Latin American and Caribbean nations gathered earlier this month in Luján, Argentina, to discuss what they want in the Church.
cruxnow.com
There's a big divide in how Americans are thinking about vaccines:
♦️83% of Republicans don't want an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
🔷64% of Democrats want to get or have already received an updated vaccine.
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... 🧪
This should be a major scandal. The Blaze falsely reported that a former U.S. Capitol Police officer was the Jan. 6th pipe bomber. But it wasn’t just another miss by conservative media promoting conspiracies.

Someone in US intel - at ODNI - was promoting it:

www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...

I’m just now up to the Halloween episode! The one where Nicole does the very obvious product placement about Febreze’s new limited time scent. 😂

Mary Todd outraged about Abraham (sorry, I couldn't resist!).
Louisiana resident here. Gobsmacked by this appointment. A true outrage.
“Dr. Ralph Abraham, who as Louisiana’s surgeon general ordered the state health department to stop promoting vaccinations and who has called Covid vaccines “dangerous,” has been named the second in command at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social

Reposted by David Darmofal

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that Thanksgiving was a “beautiful feast” that unites believers and non-believers alike, as he issued a message of thanks ahead of the U.S. holiday. apnews.com/article/pope...
Pope says Thanksgiving is a 'beautiful feast' that unites all
Pope Leo XIV says Thanksgiving is a “beautiful feast” that unites believers and non-believers alike.Leo said he was thankful for many things and urged everyone to recognize the gifts they have been gi...
apnews.com

Reposted by David Darmofal

Reporting the treated group mean along with DID estimates of the ATT cyrussamii.com?p=4151
Reporting the treated group mean along with DID estimates of the ATT – Cyrus Samii
cyrussamii.com

Reposted by David Darmofal

Regarding the tragedy of violence against women, on today’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Pope said that “we must begin with the formation of young people,” because “every person deserves respect.” www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news...
Pope: In Nicaea a message of unity for Christians, in Lebanon for peace - Vatican News
At Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV answers journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini. He describes his upcoming apostolic journey to Türkiye and ...
www.vaticannews.va

Reposted by David Darmofal

NPR @npr.org · 11h
Democrats are announcing a new investment to win over voters in rural areas — where the party has suffered deep losses in recent elections — by leaning on an economic message. n.pr/3XLWU62
Democrats plan a new investment in winning rural voters, who've fled the party
Democrats are announcing a new investment to win over voters in rural areas — where the party has suffered deep losses in recent elections — by leaning on an economic message.
n.pr

Reposted by David Darmofal

Louisiana resident here. Gobsmacked by this appointment. A true outrage.
“Dr. Ralph Abraham, who as Louisiana’s surgeon general ordered the state health department to stop promoting vaccinations and who has called Covid vaccines “dangerous,” has been named the second in command at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as C.D.C.’s Second in Command
www.nytimes.com

This Republican Senator has owed $5 million in taxes at the same time he's been denying ACA subsides to hard-working Americans who are struggling due to the inflationary policies of his party.

Reposted by David Darmofal

Peace plan presented by the US to Ukraine reflects inexperienced, unrealistic handling of a delicate situation
@us.theconversation.com
Donald Heflin
theconversation.com/peace-plan-p...
Peace plan presented by the US to Ukraine reflects inexperienced, unrealistic handling of a delicate situation
In a war that’s lasted almost four years, a former diplomat says it’s not realistic to say, ‘In the next week, come up with a very complicated peace deal, sign off on it and it’s going to stick.’
theconversation.com

Remarkable sights in the United States these days. A Catholic priest holding up his rosary while opposing Trump & Vance's treatment of immigrants.
georgiabulletin.org/news/2025/11...
Faithful participate in national advocacy for immigrants - Georgia Bulletin
With a call for solidarity, Catholics from across the Archdiocese of Atlanta joined a national movement to advocate for immigrants during two events this fall
georgiabulletin.org

An amazing new Trump controversy, Part II of II:

- Saturday afternoon: Trump says he spoke to Bolsonaro the night before and planned to see him “in the very near future”

- Monday afternoon: The Trump White House isn’t sure whether Trump actually had the conversation he referenced two days earlier
White House hedges on Trump’s curious claim about his call with Brazil’s Bolsonaro White House hedges on Trump’s curious claim about his call with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro
Did the Republican president talk to Bolsonaro as the Brazilian plotted to escape? Trump said yes, but the White House isn’t so sure.
www.ms.now

Politico, stenographer for Donald Trump. Also, the details of the plan may actually be fluid because there's a fight behind the scenes for influence between Vance and Rubio.

Our Catholic parish is actively involved with the Boy Scouts. Yet again, an issue on which the Trump-Vance administration is diametrically opposed to the Catholic Church and is off to the far right of the Catholic Church.

Reposted by David Darmofal

NPR @npr.org · 12h
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. Military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formally known as the Boy Scouts
n.pr