Jacob T. Levy
@jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory, Associate member of Philosophy, Coordinator of Research Group on Constitutional Studies, McGill.
Posts here speak only for myself.
Americo-Canadian; liberaltarian; aging geek.
http://jacobtlevy.com
Posts here speak only for myself.
Americo-Canadian; liberaltarian; aging geek.
http://jacobtlevy.com
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
These are the last words in the last column I wrote for The Washington Post, titled "When institutions crumble, strongmen step in". www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
February 4, 2026 at 3:26 PM
These are the last words in the last column I wrote for The Washington Post, titled "When institutions crumble, strongmen step in". www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
So what’s the order of demolition? First comes the Arc de Trumph, then the nameplates on the Kennedy Center, then this?
(I assume the ballroom is going to call for something more careful than a wrecking ball.)
(I assume the ballroom is going to call for something more careful than a wrecking ball.)
New @washingtonpost.com:
Trump is planning to install a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the White House
Officials are eying a spot by E St, north of the Ellipse
with the terrific @oliviacgeorge.bsky.social
Trump is planning to install a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the White House
Officials are eying a spot by E St, north of the Ellipse
with the terrific @oliviacgeorge.bsky.social
Trump plans to install Christopher Columbus statue outside White House
The president has worked to recognize the explorer, saying Italian-Americans should “remember” Trump’s efforts when they go vote.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
So what’s the order of demolition? First comes the Arc de Trumph, then the nameplates on the Kennedy Center, then this?
(I assume the ballroom is going to call for something more careful than a wrecking ball.)
(I assume the ballroom is going to call for something more careful than a wrecking ball.)
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
the things that really stick in my craw about this- and not everybody on the anti-Stancil side is doing this- are the blithe and unquestioned assumptions that 1) violence is a good solution to this problem and 2) seniority in protest movements is what determines right-of-way for violence
February 4, 2026 at 12:55 PM
the things that really stick in my craw about this- and not everybody on the anti-Stancil side is doing this- are the blithe and unquestioned assumptions that 1) violence is a good solution to this problem and 2) seniority in protest movements is what determines right-of-way for violence
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
I really do not think that the “set fires” crew will ultimately be pleased with any implementation of a universal rule that if someone at a protest is acting in a way you feel might cause danger to you, you should assault them
February 4, 2026 at 12:50 PM
I really do not think that the “set fires” crew will ultimately be pleased with any implementation of a universal rule that if someone at a protest is acting in a way you feel might cause danger to you, you should assault them
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
It's noteworthy that the speaker for tomorrow's RGCS Lecture, Tom Ginsburg (Law and Political Science, University of Chicago) is cited a number of times in the report. He is the Faculty Director for Chicago's Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression.
February 4, 2026 at 1:29 PM
It's noteworthy that the speaker for tomorrow's RGCS Lecture, Tom Ginsburg (Law and Political Science, University of Chicago) is cited a number of times in the report. He is the Faculty Director for Chicago's Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression.
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
The overview of the recommendations from the Advisory Panel on Campus Expression's "Final report on campus expression at McGill University," a panel that included RGCS PhD student Rhona Goodarzi (Law) and RGCS faculty member Catherine Lu (Political Science).
www.mcgill.ca/president/si...
www.mcgill.ca/president/si...
February 4, 2026 at 1:29 PM
The overview of the recommendations from the Advisory Panel on Campus Expression's "Final report on campus expression at McGill University," a panel that included RGCS PhD student Rhona Goodarzi (Law) and RGCS faculty member Catherine Lu (Political Science).
www.mcgill.ca/president/si...
www.mcgill.ca/president/si...
Been offline cleansing my IRL timeline.
February 4, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Been offline cleansing my IRL timeline.
Is... is the implication that that's a lot?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/b...
Nestlé’s Chief Is in Turnaround Mode. He Drinks 8 Cups of Coffee a Day.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Is... is the implication that that's a lot?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/b...
‘Don Colossus,’ a Golden Statue of President Trump, Waits for Its Home
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Waste
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Waste
www.smbc-comics.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
Three ways to get in-depth analysis, illuminate the news, and inform the political conversation:
• Read on our website: goodauthority.org
• Subscribe on Substack: goodauthority.substack.com
• Get updates by email: mailchi.mp/d99298093d4e...
Stay curious. Stay informed.
• Read on our website: goodauthority.org
• Subscribe on Substack: goodauthority.substack.com
• Get updates by email: mailchi.mp/d99298093d4e...
Stay curious. Stay informed.
Good Authority - Political Science Insights to Illuminate the News
Political scientists draw on their expertise and the discipline’s research to provide in-depth analysis and inform the political conversation.
goodauthority.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Three ways to get in-depth analysis, illuminate the news, and inform the political conversation:
• Read on our website: goodauthority.org
• Subscribe on Substack: goodauthority.substack.com
• Get updates by email: mailchi.mp/d99298093d4e...
Stay curious. Stay informed.
• Read on our website: goodauthority.org
• Subscribe on Substack: goodauthority.substack.com
• Get updates by email: mailchi.mp/d99298093d4e...
Stay curious. Stay informed.
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
For those who could not join us in Tokyo, there is now a recording available of John Dunn's Sakurada-kai Lecture, "Can Democracy be Rehabilitated?" at Keio. The print version is forthcoming @global-ih.bsky.social; I am just handling final edits. Here is the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMPr...
John Dunn: Can Democracy be Rehabilitated? (Lecture Part) - Sakuradakai Lecture at Keio University
YouTube video by 一般財団法人 櫻田會 -Sakuradakai Foundation-
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:29 AM
For those who could not join us in Tokyo, there is now a recording available of John Dunn's Sakurada-kai Lecture, "Can Democracy be Rehabilitated?" at Keio. The print version is forthcoming @global-ih.bsky.social; I am just handling final edits. Here is the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMPr...
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
Your knowledge and experience are for a world where "protest" is a defined activity with unspoken codes and hierarchies. Where your authority is real. But once "normal" people are involved, when it's MASS protest, you're not in that world anymore! That stuff doesn't matter, or is actively harmful.
February 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Your knowledge and experience are for a world where "protest" is a defined activity with unspoken codes and hierarchies. Where your authority is real. But once "normal" people are involved, when it's MASS protest, you're not in that world anymore! That stuff doesn't matter, or is actively harmful.
I reiterate my view that American Beauty is a particularly bizarre choice for Hanania to keep using as “normal healthy heterosexuality.”
Plus, you know, Alan Ball, that renowned observer of healthy heterosexuality.
(Ball is obviously very smart and very talented, but American Beauty taken together with Six Feet Under suggests a perspective on straight people that I do not think straight people should want to accept as normative.)
(Ball is obviously very smart and very talented, but American Beauty taken together with Six Feet Under suggests a perspective on straight people that I do not think straight people should want to accept as normative.)
MAN WHAT?
using kevin spacey for a comparison or example here is definitely… a choice
using kevin spacey for a comparison or example here is definitely… a choice
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 PM
I reiterate my view that American Beauty is a particularly bizarre choice for Hanania to keep using as “normal healthy heterosexuality.”
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
Once again the Crusader Against Antisemitism proves himself the biggest antisemite of all.
Trump is now demanding One Billion Dollars from Harvard, threatening criminal punishment, and insinuating Harvard’s president was chosen because of his religion (?)
February 3, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Once again the Crusader Against Antisemitism proves himself the biggest antisemite of all.
Soon as I saw the NYT headline that the administration was dropping the $200m demand on Harvard I knew, just absolutely knew, that he would tweet out an escalation to ONE BILLION DOLLARS while denouncing the FAKE NEWS.
February 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Soon as I saw the NYT headline that the administration was dropping the $200m demand on Harvard I knew, just absolutely knew, that he would tweet out an escalation to ONE BILLION DOLLARS while denouncing the FAKE NEWS.
Unsubscribing right damn fast because my inbox will get out of control if it decides to notify me every time there's a strike in Montreal.
February 3, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Unsubscribing right damn fast because my inbox will get out of control if it decides to notify me every time there's a strike in Montreal.
I got signed up for some new travel alert system by an institution's travel agency, and now I'm getting warnings on both sides of an upcoming round trip between the US (possible political violence) and Montreal (municipal strike means possibility of delays in official functions.)
February 3, 2026 at 1:43 PM
I got signed up for some new travel alert system by an institution's travel agency, and now I'm getting warnings on both sides of an upcoming round trip between the US (possible political violence) and Montreal (municipal strike means possibility of delays in official functions.)
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
Judge Reyes starts with a comparison: George Washington versus Kristi Noem.
![[start quotation] MEMORANDUM OPINION
On December 2, 1783, then-Commander-in-Chief George Washington penned: “America is open to receive not only the Opulent & respected Stranger, but the oppressed & persecuted of
all Nations & Religions.”1
More than two centuries later, Congress reaffirmed President
Washington’s vision by establishing the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. See 8
U.S.C. § 1254a (TPS statute). It provides humanitarian relief to foreign nationals in the United
States who come from disaster-stricken countries. It also brings in substantial revenue, with TPS
holders generating $5.2 billion in taxes annually. See Part VI.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has a different take."[end quotation]
Underneath is a screenshot of a tweet, which reads: " Secretary Kristi Noem
@Sec_Noem
I just met with the President.
I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.
Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom-not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS.
WE DON'T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.
6:52 PM
Dec 1, 2025
13.2M Views](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreibseafaz2alyw7z2wcopu7uht4x26giiuqqov5cznw34rhdgqub7u@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Judge Reyes starts with a comparison: George Washington versus Kristi Noem.
Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine has had that white streak in her air since Steranko created her in 1967 which is the only, and I mean only, reason to think that the MCU didn't model the unpleasant, villainous, and at best semi-competent version played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Gabbard.
February 3, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine has had that white streak in her air since Steranko created her in 1967 which is the only, and I mean only, reason to think that the MCU didn't model the unpleasant, villainous, and at best semi-competent version played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Gabbard.
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
Cannot emphasize this enough, federal judges only do this when they're extremely distressed
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
February 3, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Cannot emphasize this enough, federal judges only do this when they're extremely distressed
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
It doesn't always cover itself in glory but one thing the American legal profession has going for it is most of them have seen Judgment at Nuremberg.
February 3, 2026 at 5:24 AM
It doesn't always cover itself in glory but one thing the American legal profession has going for it is most of them have seen Judgment at Nuremberg.
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
It's only a betrayal of the source material if the new character appearance is non-white. Otherwise it's sparkling adaptation choices.
February 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
It's only a betrayal of the source material if the new character appearance is non-white. Otherwise it's sparkling adaptation choices.