Karen Benjamin Guzzo

@karenguzzo.bsky.social

4.4K followers 1.3K following 2.8K posts

Demographer and Sociologist. Director of the Carolina Population Center. LEGO Karen

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Sociology 28%

Political science 28%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3h

France is sending letters to 29 yr olds to encourage them to have children before it’s too late. That’ll absolutely raise the birth rate. 🙄

France’s letters to 29-year-olds to remind them to have babies is a spectacular missing of the point | Zoe Williams

A serious plan to tackle low birthrates could include addressing the fact that if people could afford to house themselves, they might be quicker to settle down, writes Zoe Williams

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Dorothy Bishop, John R. Hutchinson , and 7 more Ben H. Ansell, Dorothy Bishop, John R. Hutchinson, Steve Peers, Michelle Everson, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman, Dunlap, Stuart Shapiro

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 4h

1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 4h

This message from the US State Department about "not wanting allies to be shackled by guilt and shame" is a pretty direct call-out to the German far-right argument that Germany has spent too long feeling guilty about the Holocaust, and needs to move on and stop doing remembrance.

Post from the Department of State: "We do not want allies to be shackled by guilt and shame"

Reposted by Philip N. Cohen, Karen Benjamin Guzzo

NEJM.org @nejm.org · 5h

Analysis of U.S. deaths of pregnant and postpartum women from 2018–2023 indicates that obstetrical complications and disease are no longer the leading causes of maternal death, replaced by homicide, suicide, and overdose. Read the full analysis: nej.md/4a96wPp

#MedSky #Psychiatry #OBGYN

"Homicide, suicide, and drug overdose accounted for more than one fourth of maternal deaths (2018 of the total of 7901) from 2018 through 2023; deaths from these causes nearly equaled the combined toll of cardiovascular disease, infection, hypertension, and hemorrhage."

Correspondence
"Overdose, Homicide, and Suicide as Causes of Maternal Death in the United States" by H.A. Azad et al.

Leading Causes of Death among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States, 2018–2023.

Shown is the number of deaths per 100,000 live births according to cause of death among women who were pregnant or no more than 42 days post partum. Violence includes homicide and suicide by any means. Deaths in which the underlying cause was not specified are not included. AFE denotes amniotic fluid embolism, and Covid-19 coronavirus disease 2019.

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 1d

Kristi Noem tried to fire a Coast Guard pilot for forgetting her blankie but then needed that pilot to fly her home
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Wall Street Journal screenshot:
Within DHS, Noem and Lewandowski have cut employees or put them on administrative leave. The pair have fired or demoted roughly 80% of the career ICE field leadership that was in place when they started.
In the blanket incident, Noem had to switch planes after a maintenance issue was discovered, but her blanket wasn’t moved to the second plane, according to the people familiar with the incident. The Coast Guard pilot was initially fired and told to take a commercial flight home when they reached their destination. They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home.
The DHS spokeswoman didn’t address the episode but said the secretary has “made personnel decisions to deliver excellence.”

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 1d

Oh, absolutely. They've cleverly identified something they can mobilize a large base behind to ultimately accomplish anti-feminist, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ policies they've long wanted to achieve. Low birth rates are just a pretense.

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 1d

What really scares me about this moment is that the right has been able to convince "regular" people that low birth rates are a problem that must be addressed. Once people accept that - and reasonable efforts like childcare or tax credits don't work - it opens the door to more draconian efforts.

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 1d

I think about this book a lot - the concerns about who was, and was not, having children in the US have been around a long time.

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Valentine’s Day! #legokaren

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Michael W. Kraus

Jeannette H @jeannetteh.bsky.social · 1d

Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped. - www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped.

Hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than 4,400 times since October that President Donald Trump’s administration is detaining immigrants unlawfully, a Reuters review of court records ...

www.reuters.com

Reposted by American Library Association, Smith, Karen Benjamin Guzzo , and 6 more American Library Association, Smith, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Aaron Sojourner, Lesley Bartlett, Michael D. McDonald, James Goodwin, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Virginia Sapiro

Ann Elizabeth @diggybaby.bsky.social · 1d

North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.

www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/

Even without an on-campus voting site, NCAT students still marched to the polls. 💙💛 Students at North Carolina A&T showed that barriers won’t stop their voices. When access isn’t easy, they organize. ...

TikTok video by HBCU Student Action Alliance

www.tiktok.com

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Susan D. Amussen

Destenie Nock, PhD @destenie.bsky.social · 1d

I was recently promoted to Associate Professor. I’m so grateful and I also wanted to tell the truth behind what people call “effortless” success.
I wrote about infertility, fostering, work as coping, and choosing differently in this next chapter
Full story: destenienock5.wixsite.com/destenienock...

On Becoming an Associate Professor (And Telling the Truth About How I Got Here)

February 13, 2026By: Destenie NockWhen people found out I was promoted to Associate Professor, the response was generous and kind. A lot of people said some version of: “Of course. You publish so much...

destenienock5.wixsite.com

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 1d

Looksmaxxing is “a male space. My culture is not a costume.”

GTFOH

We’re doomed 😱

Handsome at Any Cost

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders, Rebecca Solnit , and 27 more Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders, Rebecca Solnit, Axel Bruns, Gavin A. Schmidt, John R. Hutchinson, Scott L. Greer, Steve Peers, John McLaren, Samuel L. Perry, Mary Feeney, Rosemary A. Joyce, Jesse Rothstein, American Library Association, Ian Campbell, Richard Waite, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Aaron Sojourner, Stephen D. Murphy, Allison Eden, Christina Pagel, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Jeannette Sutton, David Darmofal, Peter Jacobs, Katherine Siegel

Mike Hixenbaugh @mikehixenbaugh.com · 1d

On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.

The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.

But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.

On Nov. 16, a mental health counselor recorded in Kamilla’s medical records that her mother reported the girl had lost her appetite after being “served food that contained worms.”

A week later, the couple said, children were told to gather in the gym for what they believed would be a Thanksgiving celebration. Excitement spread as families saw tables set with turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, they said. The children waited expectantly. But when a parent asked when the celebration would begin, Oksana said, staff told them the holiday meal was for employees, not detainees.

The children, she said, watched despondently as the feast was packed away.

Reposted by Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Caroline Krafft, Valerie Mueller , and 2 more Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Caroline Krafft, Valerie Mueller, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Clark Gray

Adam Pollack @crispapoll.bsky.social · 1d

I am hiring a postdoc @ Univ of Iowa. Potential project focuses include flood-risk infrastructure planning, disaster recovery processes and outcomes, insurance program externalities, or uncertainty in climate damage attribution. Please consider applying/sharing! jobs.uiowa.edu/postdoc/view...

Postdoctoral Requisition Details - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa

Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.

jobs.uiowa.edu

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 2d

Aw, poor guy. But he sure is cute.

Reposted by Mark Lubell, Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 2d

Scoop: The NIH infectious-diseases institute (NIAID) will soon scrub “pandemic preparedness” and “biodefense” from its web pages, according to e-mails I obtained.

The directive is the start of a broader shake-up at NIAID, which has long been attacked by Republicans.

Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation

Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

whet moser @whetmoser.com · 2d

"The White House Office of Management and Budget, which Vought leads, is allocating $15 million of what remains of USAID operating expenses to cover the costs of his protection" www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...

Exclusive: White House uses USAID funds for budget director Vought's security, documents show

The White House budget office is using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief and an archit...

www.reuters.com

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

akilbello.bsky.social @akilbello.bsky.social · 2d

I took that new right wing admissions test so you don't have to.

"It’s inconsistent, odd, and pseudo-scientific but it has just enough of a patina of science to let politicians who share their ideology justify its use."

akilbello.com/2026/02/11/t...

Trying out the clt

I took the CLT not only to add a stone to my infinity gauntlet but so you don’t have to. Read on to find out what I’ve learned.

akilbello.com

Reposted by Emilio Zagheni, Bruno Arpino, Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Demography - the flagship journal of PAA @readdemography.bsky.social · 2d

In “Limits of Predicting Individual-Level Longevity,” Badolato et al. assess a range of classic statistical & machine learning survival analysis models. @nickirons.bsky.social @monjalexander.bsky.social @ugobas.bsky.social @ezagheni.bsky.social @mpidr.bsky.social read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...

Reposted by Elizabeth Warren, Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @ocasio-cortez.house.gov · 3d

When only the wealthy can afford peace of mind for their children, we've turned childhood into a privilege, not a promise.

I am proud to lead the Child Care for Every Community Act with @warren.senate.gov to cap childcare costs and fight for universal childcare.

19thnews.org/2026/02/aoc-...

AOC and Warren join forces in high-profile child care push ahead of midterms

As Republicans urge Americans to have more children but offer few supportive policies, Democrats believe reducing child care costs could be a winning message.

19thnews.org

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

Population change is real - but it's also a slow moving train. We have time to design thoughtful policy responses to address population aging, future labor market needs, and economic growth. But if we focus on raising birth rates as the ONLY possible response, we'll squander that time. 6/6

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

The second question we should be asking is "how can we support the population we have now, and will likely have in the future?" This great review piece argues that good policy can actually help ameliorate many of the consequences of low fertility. 5/6 www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

Fertility in High-Income Countries: Trends, Patterns, Determinants, and Consequences by David Bloom, Michael Kuhn, and Klaus Prettner

Abstract: High-income countries have generally experienced falling fertility in recent decades. In most of these countries, the total fertility rate is now below the level that implies a stable population in the long run. This has led to concerns among economists, policymakers, and the wider public about the economic consequences of low fertility and population decline. In this contribution, we aim to (a) describe the main determinants of low fertility in high-income countries, (b) assess its potential economic consequences, (c) discuss adjustment mechanisms for individuals and economies, (d) propose a simple economic framework to analyze the long-run economic impacts of low fertility, and (e) draw lessons for economic policymakers to react appropriately. While the economic challenges of low fertility are substantial, a thoughtful and consistent policy response can mitigate most of the adverse consequences.

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

Things like childcare and paid leave would be great. And we should support them EVEN IF THEY DON'T RAISE BIRTH RATES because there is a robust body of evidence demonstrating they improve the health and well-being of children, parents, and families. (They're even good for employers!) 4/6

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

That's not to say that there are no economic or societal implications for low birth rates or that there's nothing we can or should do. But what we should be asking are two questions. First, we should ask "how can we make parenthood easier for parents and would-be parents?" 3/6

Reposted by Clark Gray

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

There is no evidence that ANY policy, or set of policies, can substantially increase birth rates (and then sustain them) in a low fertility setting. That's the conclusion from an excellent and thorough meta-analyses. 2/6 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections
ANNE H. GAUTHIER AND STUART GIETEL-BASTEN

Family policies, defined as measures designed to support families with children, are part of modern welfare states. They range from punctual measures provided at the birth of a child to measures aimed at making it easier for parents to combine work and family responsibilities. The actual goal of these measures varies largely, being explicitly pronatalist in some cases while embracing a more equalitarian principle in others. Despite the variations in the nature of these policies and their stated goal, they are nonetheless all generally assumed to have a positive effect on fertility. The aim of this paper is threefold. First, the aim is to summarize the main findings from the literature on the impact of family policies on fertility. This is done by adopting ahistorical perspective, including the review of the early studies in this field of research and by distinguishing different methodologies. Second, the aim is to reflect on these findings, including the role of national context and the framing of policies. Third, the aim is also to reflect on the limited impact of policy interventions on fertility, stressing that their “success” should instead be measured in terms of their ability to support families holistically including their work-life balance.

Reposted by Philip N. Cohen, Rebecca Sear

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 3d

One of the most frustrating things about the current US discourse over low birth rates is its laser focus on "how can we raise birth rates?" In this op-ed for @thehill.com, I explain why that's the wrong question and what we should be asking instead. 1/6
thehill.com/opinion/heal...

Headline from The Hill reading "How to raise birth rates is the wrong question: Here’s what we should be asking"

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Candice Frederick @candicefrederick.bsky.social · 3d

Black Women Are Losing Jobs At Three Times The Rate Of Other Women www.essence.com/news/money-c...

Black Women Are Losing Jobs At Three Times The Rate Of Other Women | Essence

New labor data shows Black women accounted for a disproportionate share of job losses across 2025, especially in federal, education, and care-sector roles.

www.essence.com

Reposted by Karen Benjamin Guzzo

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: @naleoofficial.bsky.social says if the Census Bureau moves forward with its planned cutbacks to the 2026 Census Test, they will "set the Bureau up to fail in 2030 by sabotaging its ability to obtain a fair and accurate count of Latinos and the nation’s population as a whole"

“Our communities are being erased in real time — first from our streets through aggressive immigration enforcement, and now from the data that determine political power and public investment for the next decade.

“Two years ago, the Census Bureau set forth plans for a 2026 census test that was intended to be a field test of Census 2030 operations. Last week, the Bureau abruptly released — without stakeholder engagement — a drastic proposal to change its testing plan. These changes include testing a citizenship question, dramatically reducing the number of testing sites from six to just two, testing in areas without a substantial Latino population, and other significant changes. If the Bureau proceeds with these plans, it will fail to obtain reliable information on how to reach hard-to-count communities, including Latinos — particularly very young Latino children who have experienced persistent and growing undercounts.

“This is unacceptable and would set the Bureau up to fail in 2030 by sabotaging its ability to obtain a fair and accurate count of Latinos and the nation’s population as a whole.

“An undercount of Latinos in 2030 would result in fewer resources for schools, health care, housing, and emergency services, and less representation in our democracy. The Constitution is clear: everyone who lives here must be counted. NALEO Educational Fund, alongside our NALEO members, will continue working with congressional leaders and community partners to demand robust testing, transparency, and a census that counts every person. Our communities deserve to be safe, seen, and counted — not erased.”

Reposted by Fabián Muniesa, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Rebecca Tushnet , and 6 more Fabián Muniesa, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Aaron Sojourner, James Goodwin, Brian Keegan, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Evan Roberts

Alan Elrod @aselrod.bsky.social · 3d

I see no reason not to look at the online gambling and prediction market craze as a new opioids crisis.

It will wreak havoc on lower-income Americans and leave a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.

The companies are just Purdue Pharma 2.0

www.liberalcurrents.com/from-pill-mi...

From Pill Mills to Prop Bets: Prediction Markets and Mobile Sports Betting Apps Are Fueling America’s Next Addiction Crisis

Against the gamblification of the world.

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