Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jan-Werner Mueller

@jwmueller-pu.bsky.social

15K followers 890 following 1.6K posts

Political Theory and Intellectual History. Politics of Architecture and Iconography. Some Public Affairs Commentary. Posting in a personal capacity. Texts mostly in LRB, Guardian, Foreign Policy, Architectural Review. Representation: Wylie. .. more

Videos

Computer science 57%

Mathematics 29%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Eric Goldman, James Goodwin , and 1 more Jan W. Mueller, Eric Goldman, James Goodwin, David Darmofal

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 8h

“.. Inside the White House, top advisers joke that they are ruling Congress with an “iron fist,” according to people who have heard the comments. Steve Bannon, the influential Trump ally, likened Congress to the Duma, the Russian assembly that is largely ceremonial.”

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

72 420 970

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 19h

"The document...includes principles...that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."

MIT rejects "Compact." 👏

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

5 19

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 21h

👇🎯

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 22h

Marc Rowan says the "compact" will "protect free speech," but First Amendment scholars across the political spectrum are of one mind that the compact is flagrantly unconstitutional, and every major free speech org--from the ACLU to FIRE to PEN--agrees. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...

1 2 14

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Jan W. Mueller, John Quiggin , and 6 more Stephen M. Walt, Jan W. Mueller, John Quiggin, Julia Lynch, Lauren Hersch Nicholas, Jacob T. Levy, Henry Farrell, Stephen A. Meserve, Anita Gohdes

Filipe Campante @filipecampante.bsky.social · 21h

It might be hard to convey to people outside economics just how seismic this is. The Trump effect has most certainly arrived to US academia.

Florian Scheuer @florianscheuer.bsky.social · 1d

I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.

🧵 1/7

9 130 430

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Alan Richardson

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 22h

3 43 150

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Marc Lynch, Jan W. Mueller , and 3 more Cas Mudde, Marc Lynch, Jan W. Mueller, Norbert Schwarz, Cary P. Gross, Joshua S. Weitz

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you @nytopinion.nytimes.com for publishing this rot. Marc Rowan has run hundreds of companies into the dust to extract profits from their failure and bankruptcies. Now he wants to do the same to American higher education. Do not believe a word this man says. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Badly Needed

www.nytimes.com

11 180 600

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Stephen M. Walt, Cas Mudde , and 51 more Dani Rodrik, Stephen M. Walt, Cas Mudde, Ben H. Ansell, Jan W. Mueller, Guntram B. Wolff, Christian Odendahl, Richard S.J. Tol, Colin F. Camerer, Robbert Sanderman, David Brady, Gabriel Felbermayr, Steven Van de Walle, Tomasz Mickiewicz, Alistair Munro, Michael A. Clemens, Cyrus Samii, Lucas Leemann, Francesco Saraceno, Laia Balcells, Andrew Curry, Paul Lehmann, Guy Grossman, John Mullahy, Joshua Goodman, David Dorn, Ingo Rohlfing, Daniel W. Drezner, Iikka Korhonen, Robert C. Richards, Aaron Sojourner, Daniel Huppmann, Julia Lynch, Rita Hamad, Stephen D. Murphy, Nazita Lajevardi, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Miguel Á. Malo, Henry Farrell, Dean Eckles, Maria Abreu, Dana R. Fisher, Jason Lyall, Brian Weatherson, Brooke Harrington, Bård Harstad, Christina Pagel, Jürgen Janger, Nicolai von Ondarza, Karsten Mäuse, Dietmar Fehr, Bartosz Bartkowski, Adam Tooze, Anita Gohdes

Florian Scheuer @florianscheuer.bsky.social · 1d

23 190 950

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Richard S.J. Tol, Will Jennings , and 7 more Jan W. Mueller, Richard S.J. Tol, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Rosemary A. Joyce, Aaron Sojourner, Lisa Diedrich, Manisha Sinha, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Peter Bergman

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 1d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

94 3.1K 11K

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Jan W. Mueller, Susan Hyde

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 1d

Regrettably relevant research today

Disguised Repression: Targeting Opponents with Nonpolitical Crimes to Undermine Dissent
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

1 150 410

Reposted by Scott L. Greer

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 1d

"...Trumpists...seek to entrap universities in a deal that ...gives the administration arbitrary power over them. The carrots serve to lure institutions of higher learning into a dark alley where, rather than just waiting with a big stick, the government can put a gun to their heads at any time."

US universities must reject Trump’s ‘compact’. It is full of traps | Jan-Werner Müller

The administration is trying to make nine universities an offer they seemingly cannot refuse

www.theguardian.com

4 18 32

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Anne Deighton

Princeton University Department of Politics @princetonpolitics.bsky.social · 1d

"This is not about this or that policy; it is about a chief executive governing according to his whims, with impunity and obvious disregard for the US Constitution."
@jwmueller-pu.bsky.social writes for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social
bit.ly/43bKHum

How the Democrats Can “Win” the US Government Shutdown

Jan-Werner Mueller urges the party to adhere to some key lessons about confronting would-be autocrats.

www.project-syndicate.org

2 1

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, David Darmofal

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 1d

"Although family benefits remain popular, they have not achieved the stated goal of increasing births. In 2024, just 77,500 children were born in Hungary — the lowest number since 1949."

The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the...

vsquare.org

2 8

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Sanford F. Schram

Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 2d

Far-right grifters are determining the “reality”’of the most powerful man in the world. What could go wrong? 🤷‍♂️

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 2d

Incredible.

Jack Posobiec references the earliest version of antifa -- the anti-fascists in the Weimar Republic who were opposed to the Nazi Party -- as the bad guys.

2 39 110

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 2d

“Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine said Wednesday that he and other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a classified briefing this week, were denied access to the Pentagon’s legal opinion about whether the boat strikes adhered to U.S. law.”

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump has yet to provide Congress hard evidence that targeted boats carried drugs, officials say

The Trump administration hasn't provided evidence to lawmakers that recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats were justified.

apnews.com

13 130 260

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 2d

"The future they are building is one in which states cooperate in a global condominium to suppress transnational dissent...one in which a fundamental means of continuing the struggle against dictatorships—fleeing to a more democratic country and advocating from there—is foreclosed."

Important read:

Trump Is Supporting Transnational Repression

Instead of sheltering pro-democracy dissidents, America is now returning them for arrest.

foreignpolicy.com

2 9 19

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 2d

"I was one of the many commentators who said that the choice of an American as Pope was an impossibility (or at least extreme improbability). I took my cue from the late Cardinal George who said that there would never be an American Pope until our country went into political decline."

Well...

Bishop Robert Barron on X: "I’m still trying to take it all in! The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV was an extraordinary and delightful surprise. I was one of the many commentators who said that the choice of an American as Pope was an impossibility (or at least extreme improbability)." / X

I’m still trying to take it all in! The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV was an extraordinary and delightful surprise. I was one of the many commentators who said that the choice of an American as Pope was an impossibility (or at least extreme improbability).

x.com

3 11

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller

Central NJ Yimby 🏗️🚲🚇🇺🇸 @princetonyimby.bsky.social · 2d

GOP candidate for NJ governor Jack Ciatterelli has a 10-point "Garden State Affordability Agenda". Absolutely none of the 10 points are about housing, the biggest expense in the lives of most New Jerseyans. 🤔 www.nj.com/politics/202...

Can anyone make it cheaper to live in N.J.? Sherrill and Ciattarelli make their case.

The candidates for governor battle over property taxes, school funding and energy costs as polls show affordability is a top voter concern ahead of November election.

www.nj.com

2 2 22

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, John McLaren, Rebecca Tushnet

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 2d

Virginia State Senate Dems just brought down fire and fury regarding the “Compact,” notifying the President and Rector that UVA would lose ALL STATE APPROPRIATIONS if it signs and cedes the University to “federal political control.” Notably, their letter directly restates points made here by @siva.

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 2d

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

17 540 2.1K

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 2d

New issue of The Architectural Review with an essay on Hannah Arendt and borders.

Borders - The Architectural Review issue 1525, October 2025

The October issue is dedicated to borders. From disputed hospitals and conservation conflicts to razed neighbourhoods and refugee camps, partition transforms places and lives.

www.architectural-review.com

1 9

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Jan W. Mueller, Jacob Montgomery , and 6 more Anna O. Law, Jan W. Mueller, Jacob Montgomery, Robert S. Miller, Rebecca Tushnet, Jacob T. Levy, Brian Keegan, Victor Pickard, Lisa Diedrich

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 2d

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

10 190 550

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Jan W. Mueller, Michael A. Clemens , and 3 more Lisa W. Fazio, Jan W. Mueller, Michael A. Clemens, Rosemary A. Joyce, Olivier Sandre, David Darmofal

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 3d

"It is going to be disastrous if this continues"

Nobel Prize physics laureate John Clarke says Trump cuts will 'cripple' US scientific research

u.afp.com/SmAy

7 220 450

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller

Media 🇮🇹 @mediasit.skyfleet.blue · 3d

Antonio Scurati: la democrazia dei lettori ci salverà dai sovranismi

Per la prima volta da cinque secoli la base della piramide di chi legge si restringe. E così la capacità di interpretare il mondo arretra a favore delle sempli…

www.repubblica.it

1 3

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Jan W. Mueller, Norbert Schwarz , and 28 more Cas Mudde, Jan W. Mueller, Norbert Schwarz, Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, Scott L. Greer, Robert W. Wallace, Rosemary A. Joyce, Marina Jirotka, David Rothschild, Eric Goldman, Christian E. Weller, Daniel W. Drezner, Melanie C. Green, David R. Miller, Lesley Bartlett, Paolo Beria, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Michael D. McDonald, Jason Lyall, Aurélien Mondon, Ann Bartow, Colm O’Cinneíde, Blair Fix, Tim Fish, Claire Sécail, Daxton R. Stewart, Olivier Mannoni, Nancy M. Wingfield, Christopher Blair, James M. Thomas

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 3d

Here’s video of the incident

260 1.7K 4K

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Jan W. Mueller, Joe R. Feagin , and 12 more Joanna Bryson, Jan W. Mueller, Joe R. Feagin, Brendan Nyhan, Pamela Samuelson, Scott L. Greer, Daniel W. Drezner, Melanie C. Green, Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, Rebecca M. Bratspies, Michael D. McDonald, Mark Rice, Andrew Rudalevige, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 3d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

190 4.9K 11K

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Kevin Carey

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 3d

👇

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 3d

CBS News current president Tom Cibroski praised Weiss on the call, saying "Bari's energy and passion is infectious and you will feel it, big time." He also added that the Free Press and CBS News "are going to learn a lot from each other...that's what this is all about."

1 1 1

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 3d

Exactly right. See also by Professors Robert Post and Tom Ginsburg: "Holding hostage federal loans and grants, the “compact” is essentially a unilateral executive decree that cannot be refused"

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

1 6 8

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Jacob T. Levy

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 3d

63 19 350

Reposted by Laurent Pech

Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 3d

Rarely has so much creativity been poured into the creation of euphemisms: "tradition-bucking, " "norm-breaking," etc. ...

NPR @npr.org · 3d

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration.

Trump's power to deploy National Guard, explained

n.pr

4 30 120