Emery Berger
@emeryberger.bsky.social
Professor, Computer Science, UMass; Amazon Scholar. I work on programming languages & systems, among other things. http://PLASMA-UMass.org, http://github.com/plasma-umass, http://CSrankings.org, http://github.com/emeryberger. ACM Fellow.
Reposted by Emery Berger
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
Reposted by Emery Berger
Is 400 tons a lot?
President Hernandez was serving 45 years in prison for a plot to distribute 400 tons of cocaine before Trump pardoned him. Meanwhile, Trump is murdering fishermen in small boats for allegedly smuggling far smaller amounts.
“Additionally, I Will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that | greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly.”
November 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Is 400 tons a lot?
Reposted by Emery Berger
Reposted by Emery Berger
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison. n.pr/4pGmc1n
Trump plans to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
n.pr
November 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison. n.pr/4pGmc1n
Reposted by Emery Berger
Reposted by Emery Berger
Insanely stupid and short-sighted choice. I didn't even know they were still trying to run this racket. You put more universities in danger with this shit you idiots!
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Insanely stupid and short-sighted choice. I didn't even know they were still trying to run this racket. You put more universities in danger with this shit you idiots!
Reposted by Emery Berger
Meanwhile, the Trump administration lets massive convicted drug dealers go free www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Trump plans to pardon former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison for running a “narco-state” that helped send cocaine to the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Meanwhile, the Trump administration lets massive convicted drug dealers go free www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Emery Berger
trump: “no see we HAVE to blow up those boats in the caribbean, they could be carrying drugs!”
also trump:
also trump:
November 29, 2025 at 12:01 AM
trump: “no see we HAVE to blow up those boats in the caribbean, they could be carrying drugs!”
also trump:
also trump:
Reposted by Emery Berger
given how unpopular Trump is, it’s insane that civil society/universities/law firms are still asking themselves “how do I stay on Trump’s good side” rather than “how do I avoid facing consequences for complying with Trump’s illegal demands”
New Gallup poll shows Trump's approval hit a new low for his second term:
-36% approve
-60% disapprove
His approval among Republicans went from 91% in January to 84% in November
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
-36% approve
-60% disapprove
His approval among Republicans went from 91% in January to 84% in November
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Trump's Approval Rating Drops to 36%, New Second-Term Low
President Donald Trump's job approval rating has slipped to a new second-term low point and is approaching his all-time low of 34%.
news.gallup.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
given how unpopular Trump is, it’s insane that civil society/universities/law firms are still asking themselves “how do I stay on Trump’s good side” rather than “how do I avoid facing consequences for complying with Trump’s illegal demands”
In the running for Understatement of the Year
This is very disturbing
This is by a large margin the most serious problem and mistake in conference peer review I have seen in my career. Apparently a many people were aware of this and many could find out who their reviewers were. This probably has created a large number of unnecessary enmities.
@iclr-conf.bsky.social
@iclr-conf.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
In the running for Understatement of the Year
Reposted by Emery Berger
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
Reposted by Emery Berger
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
November 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Reposted by Emery Berger
An Emirati investment fund used a Trump-family cryptocurrency in a $2 billion deal. The cryptocurrency had been on the market for five weeks. The Emiratis tell 60 Minutes they chose World Liberty crypto for “business suitability.” cbsn.ws/4r3epvX
November 17, 2025 at 12:56 AM
An Emirati investment fund used a Trump-family cryptocurrency in a $2 billion deal. The cryptocurrency had been on the market for five weeks. The Emiratis tell 60 Minutes they chose World Liberty crypto for “business suitability.” cbsn.ws/4r3epvX
Reposted by Emery Berger
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Reposted by Emery Berger
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
Reposted by Emery Berger
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
Reposted by Emery Berger
Remember when Obama cancelled funds for NJ after Christie won governorship in 2009? Or when Biden cancelled funds for VA after Youngkin won in 2021?
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Remember when Obama cancelled funds for NJ after Christie won governorship in 2009? Or when Biden cancelled funds for VA after Youngkin won in 2021?
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
Reposted by Emery Berger
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article)
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Emery Berger
Alvin Holsey, who ran bombings as SouthCom head, resigned with no explanation. Rep Adam Smith says Pentagon denied request for testimony and Rs aren't pushing for it.
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
October 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Alvin Holsey, who ran bombings as SouthCom head, resigned with no explanation. Rep Adam Smith says Pentagon denied request for testimony and Rs aren't pushing for it.
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Emery Berger
This was published one year ago. Everything is, sadly, true today.
October 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This was published one year ago. Everything is, sadly, true today.
Reposted by Emery Berger
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Reposted by Emery Berger
This is true—Bessent owns $25 million of farmland in North Dakota—and a reminder of why farm bailouts are nothing more than a giveaway to feudal lords who demand the government grossly distort agricultural economics to make their tax haven "farms" even more valuable to them.
Bessent on American farmers being hurt by tariffs: "Martha, in case you don't know it, I'm actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too."
October 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This is true—Bessent owns $25 million of farmland in North Dakota—and a reminder of why farm bailouts are nothing more than a giveaway to feudal lords who demand the government grossly distort agricultural economics to make their tax haven "farms" even more valuable to them.
Reposted by Emery Berger
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
Reposted by Emery Berger
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.