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mkevane.com
Michael Kevane
@mkevane.com
1.8K followers 600 following 1.7K posts

Economics professor, Santa Clara University. Political economy of Burkina Faso, Sudan, and Puerto Rico, university governance, and housing issues in San José, CA. Posts here are strictly personal opinion. Also, libraries and reading: www.favl.org .. more

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mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · Dec 2
Proud the FAVL partner in Burkina Faso distributed 1,520 illustrated, locally produced books to 152 students in Maro, Tuy Province. The books cost about $.75 each, so this is about $1200 to produce and distribute. Or $7 per child to get 10 books to read. favl.org/2024/12/02/d...
Distribution de 1,500 livres aux élèves du CEG de Maro
L’association des Amis des Bibliothèques de Villages du Burkina Faso/ABVBF a distribué gratuitement ce 27 novembre 2024, des livres produits au centre multimédia de Houndé/CMH aux élèves du collège…
favl.org
1 1 10

Reposted by Michael Kevane

drewharwell.com
Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 3h
Military families on day 9 of the shutdown lining up at the food bank
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Reposted by Michael Kevane

robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 5h
‪Walter Olson‬ goes through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talks about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what he describes as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."
Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"
The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...
www.cato.org
10 18

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 8h
Every Republican supporting Trump needs to be challenged on this. If their city council proposed to raise taxes to have $10s millions to reduce crime and effects of crime, like community health workers, CPS case workers, rape counselors, and prosecuting wage theft, they would all vote no.
piperformissouri.bsky.social
Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 8h
“The National Guard’s mostly quiet walks through Washington, D.C., are expected to cost a little more than $200 million…”

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
A Very, Very Expensive Way to Reduce Crime
The Trump administration’s National Guard deployments are highly inefficient.
www.theatlantic.com
3

Reposted by Michael Kevane

piperformissouri.bsky.social
Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 8h
“The National Guard’s mostly quiet walks through Washington, D.C., are expected to cost a little more than $200 million…”

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
A Very, Very Expensive Way to Reduce Crime
The Trump administration’s National Guard deployments are highly inefficient.
www.theatlantic.com
39 320 710

Reposted by Michael Kevane

goldy.horsesass.org
Goldy @goldy.horsesass.org · 8h
When Donald Trump keeps complaining that Portland is rebuilding itself out of "plywood," I think he might be referring to this? If so, horrors!
Forest to Frame: Why Portland's Airport is a New Milestone for Mass Timber - Metropolis
ZGF Architects recently completed an all mass timber airport in Portland, Oregon
metropolismag.com
3 10 39

Reposted by Joseph Schafer, Michael Kevane

kairyssdal.bsky.social
Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 9h
The entire American economy is being held hostage to the whims of a guy who doesn’t understand how the economy works
220 990 4.7K

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Michael A. Clemens, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 16 more

histoftech.bsky.social
NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · 10h
The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
33 770 2.7K

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 15h
The benefit of being first is it is such an easy win... the university presidents who procrastinated now have to use new and different words to explain the obvious, and they also have to explain why they procrastinated.
kathleenclark.bsky.social
Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 17h
A master class from MIT in responding to authoritarian overreach:

Your “premise … is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
… America’s leadership in science & innovation depends on independent thinking & open competition for excellence.
Dear Madam Secretary, I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters. I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education. As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples: • MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions. • MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%. source: https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/regarding-compact • We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree. These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law. The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those 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. In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education. As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation. Sincerely, Sally Kornbluth
2

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Kim L. Scheppele, Brendan Nyhan , and 2 more

kathleenclark.bsky.social
Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 17h
A master class from MIT in responding to authoritarian overreach:

Your “premise … is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
… America’s leadership in science & innovation depends on independent thinking & open competition for excellence.
Dear Madam Secretary, I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters. I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education. As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples: • MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions. • MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%. source: https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/regarding-compact • We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree. These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law. The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those 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. In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education. As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation. Sincerely, Sally Kornbluth
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Reposted by Michael Kevane

spotieotis.bsky.social
Otis Hart @spotieotis.bsky.social · 2d
The 31 Minutos El Tiny performance has more than 5 Million YouTube views in less than 72 hours. Only a handful of Tiny Desks can make that claim. Pretty insane.
31 Minutos: Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
youtu.be
2 1 12

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 3d
Pranab Bardhan on politics and populism... "When I first Came to the US two Political Issues Unexpectedly Disturbed Me" pranabbardhan.substack.com/p/when-i-fir...
2

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 12 more

heathercherone.bsky.social
Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 4d
Pritzker is also furious: “Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization.”
Gov. JB Pritzker’s letter to the National Governors Association
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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Kim L. Scheppele, Rebecca Solnit , and 12 more

jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 4d
It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...
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Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Michael Kevane

kathleenbush.bsky.social
Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 4d
The number of international students arriving in the US in Augugst fell 19% this year compared with last year, the largest decline on record outside the pandemic

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Nearly 20 Percent Fewer International Students Traveled to the U.S. in August
The data shows the steepest decline in August international student arrivals since the pandemic.
www.nytimes.com
2 8 17

Reposted by Michael Kevane

cobbo3.bsky.social
Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3.bsky.social · 4d
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ushered in a new era of authoritarianism, and in key ways more autocratic than her predecessor Magufuli. She has crossed autocratic thresholds that haven’t been breached since Tanzania’s transition to multipartyism in 1992.
Tanzania’s Samia Hassan has ushered in a new era of authoritarianism: here’s how
President Samia Hassan is relying on repressive tactics to eliminate her most significant competitors from the 2025 presidential race.
theconversation.com
3 8

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 5d
This point seems so obviously true based on the Bad Bunny rhetoric from Kristi Noem etc. You "look" Latino, you speak Spanish? For the Trump administration, you're a second-class citizen.
whstancil.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 5d
I wish Dems would PLAY INTO IT: highlight the abuses, describe what Trump’s doing as specifically a war against Latinos, and demand protections for Latinos in the law and Constitution. It’s all upside - it shreds Trump’s coalition and it’s a powerful vehicle for resistance
esghound.com
Rude Law Dog @esghound.com · 5d
Latino guys I talk to who are conservative coded: guys in well paying blue collar work, rosary on the rear view mirror guys, guys who hate communism and say the Dems are too extreme left etc.... they are almost all disgusted and furious about this shit.
3

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 5d
Biden top assistant last year spoke at my university: "Susie Wiles is a true professional," she said. I'm sorry, but anyone who stands next to Donald Trump while he rants is exactly the opposite of a professional.
factpostnews.bsky.social
FactPost @factpostnews.bsky.social · 5d
Trump opens the door to repealing the ACA:

"It's not working. Obamacare has been a disaster for the people."
1

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Michael Kevane

lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 5d
“A full harvest moon is rising, though it is still only twilight”

Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL GrantWatson
A barn owl is perched on a wall at dusk. A full moon has risen in the still blue sky above a small village.
4 48 300

Reposted by Michael Kevane

factpostnews.bsky.social
FactPost @factpostnews.bsky.social · 5d
Trump opens the door to repealing the ACA:

"It's not working. Obamacare has been a disaster for the people."
19 17 75

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Rosemary A. Joyce, Juan Cole , and 6 more

wyden.senate.gov
Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 5d
They’re using American tax dollars to fund infrastructure in Argentina because that’s where they’re all going to flee when we kick them out of office
ryangrim.bsky.social
Ryan Grim @ryangrim.bsky.social · 9d
After announcing a $20 billion bailout of Argentina, the White House now says it's pausing $18 billion in funding for NYC infrastructure projects

Russ Vought would love nothing more than to tear this country down to its studs
670 4.2K 14K

Reposted by Michael Kevane

whstancil.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 5d
I wish Dems would PLAY INTO IT: highlight the abuses, describe what Trump’s doing as specifically a war against Latinos, and demand protections for Latinos in the law and Constitution. It’s all upside - it shreds Trump’s coalition and it’s a powerful vehicle for resistance
esghound.com
Rude Law Dog @esghound.com · 5d
Latino guys I talk to who are conservative coded: guys in well paying blue collar work, rosary on the rear view mirror guys, guys who hate communism and say the Dems are too extreme left etc.... they are almost all disgusted and furious about this shit.
14 70 400

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Michael Kevane, Nelson Flores

phillewis.bsky.social
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 5d
Bad Bunny responds to his Super Bowl critics in Spanish, and then English: “And, if you didn’t understand know what I just said, you have four months to learn!”
200 2.2K 10K

Reposted by Michael Kevane

atherton.bsky.social
Kelsey Atherton @atherton.bsky.social · 6d
Stephen Miller is screaming on
X that his feeling of their being an insurrection in Oregon is more important than the obvious truth, asserted by judge, that there's nothing of the sort. He can keep trying to force reality to bend to his moods (& SCOTUS will help) but at some point people will balk.
12 88 720

Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Anna O. Law, Richard S.J. Tol , and 17 more

brandonfriedman.bsky.social
Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 6d
Everyone is trying to have a normal Saturday night and the president's top advisor is on X announcing that civil war is necessary
@StephenM on X: Legal insurrection. The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge. Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life. (There are more local law enforcement officers in Oregon than there are guns and badges in the FBI nationwide). This is an organized terrorist attack on the federal government and its officers, and the deployment of troops is an absolute necessity to defend our personnel, our laws, our government, public order and the Republic itself.
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Reposted by Michael Kevane

notkissinger.bsky.social
Mike 🇺🇸🇺🇦 @notkissinger.bsky.social · 6d
I’d say there is like >10% chance that Miller takes down himself, Trump, and the entire GOP as a party by attempting a fascism when the public hates it.
2 7 160

Reposted by Michael Kevane

siphophiri.bsky.social
Sipho Phiri 🇿🇲 @siphophiri.bsky.social · 6d
HH is good with traditional leaders . Here he is with Paramount Chief Charles of the English tribe.

This has been widely viewed on Zed-X witj amusement & surprise, largely bc Africans & Europeans alike do not view the European monarchies as tribal. Phrasing it this way has been a wake up call
President Hakainde Hichilema with Paramount Chief Charles
2 6

mkevane.com
Michael Kevane @mkevane.com · 7d
Nice framing!
1

Reposted by Michael Kevane, Silvia Secchi, William A. Allen

jwmason.bsky.social
JW Mason @jwmason.bsky.social · 7d
I turned my thread on Ai from earlier this eevning into a blogpost. jwmason.org/slackwire/ac...
Actual Intelligence – J. W. Mason
jwmason.org
3 9 38

Reposted by Michael Kevane

samillingworth.com
Prof Sam Illingworth @samillingworth.com · 7d
❄️ A glacier-free Sierra Nevada is unprecedented

New evidence shows that glaciers in California’s Sierra Nevada disappearance would be the first in recorded geological time.

🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scia...

#SciComm #ClimateCrisis 🧪
Glaciers in California’s Sierra Nevada are likely disappearing for the first time in the Holocene
The projected loss of glaciers in California’s Sierra Nevada is likely unprecedented in at least the past 30,000 years.
doi.org
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Reposted by Michael Kevane

dallowayaside.bsky.social
Mrs Dalloway in Parenthesis @dallowayaside.bsky.social · 7d
(and he had left her, Peter Walsh remembered, without a word in the drawing-room that night when Clarissa had asked him to come boating)
1