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Rebecca M. Townsend

@rmtownsend.bsky.social

2.5K followers 1K following 810 posts

Deliberation, democracy & public engagement scholar #TeamRhetoric #Commsky politics in US & #CEE #transportation, public memory, Town Meeting. Lifter. Vlach/Aromanian #WMASS @TownModerator.bsky.social

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · Nov 9

#BeyondTheColdWar Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope

Book cover: Beyond the Cold: Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe
Edited by Rebecca M. Townsend

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13h

Very glad to be here!
@g-kwiatkowski.bsky.social
@yalebooks.bsky.social

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Grzegorz Kwiatkowski @g-kwiatkowski.bsky.social · 4d

2/ Miłosz lived in Washington from 1946 to 1950 and wrote deeply political poems there. In one of them, from the collection "The Light of Day", he writes: "We know that he who wants to rule the world will pass away." And somehow that brings a measure of comfort.

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Grzegorz Kwiatkowski @g-kwiatkowski.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve arrived at Yale and will soon present the results of my year-long residency so far. But this project will continue, because in 2026 the literary part will be joined by musical and exhibition components. The premiere will take place in New Haven, London, and Gdańsk. More to come.

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

Looking forward to this very much!

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

Check with local historical societies and see what they might have to share

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

Moderators are also celebrating the role town meetings played in the American Revolution.

#LocalDemocracy

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

It comes from

General Law - Part I, Title II, Chapter 6, Section 15PP share.google/dchQ7gAwKRYo...

General Law - Part I, Title II, Chapter 6, Section 15PP

share.google

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Town Meeting Day!

With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social
For the proclamation!

A Proclamation

Whereas French diplomat, historian, and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville stated, “Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach” emphasizing the significant role of town meetings within society; and

Whereas, Town meetings have served residents both for routine matters and in times of crisis by coming to public judgement on matters of self-governance; and

Whereas, The notion of participatory democracy was a foundational rationale for the American Revolution; and

Whereas Revolutionaries learned to engage in deliberation with each other to further their communities’ causes and pledged their lives and liberties to the principles of self-governance in their efforts for freedom; and

Whereas, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were crafted by town meeting members who sought to bring the precepts of participatory self-determination and democracy to the scripture of our founding documents; and

Whereas, The town meeting legislature and the principles it embodies are as vital and relevant today as they were amidst the founding of our nation,

Now, Therefore, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 8th, 2025, to be,

TOWN MEETING DAY

And urge all the residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of October, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-ninth.
By Her Excellency
Maura T. Healey
Governor of the Commonwealth
Kimberley Driscoll
Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

#TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy

Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Town Meeting Day!

With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social
For the proclamation!

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 1d

#TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy

Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Town Meeting Day!

With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social
For the proclamation!

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 3d

This is a great and interesting thread. Flagging this one for my network especially.

Nome @nome.bsky.social · 3d

We'd much rather you be through security quickly for everyone's sake. For yours, having a good experience, and for ours, not having you potentially slow the folks behind you.

Denver Airport is one of many that recognizes the Sunflower hidden disabilities symbol. If you need it, get a lanyard.

HDS - Global

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discreet sign that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need additional support

hdsunflower.com

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 2d

-article on

'How Pete Hegseth’s former Minnesota church is leading the new Christian “crusade”'

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 3d

barnraisingmedia.com/megachurches...

Megachurches: Streaming to a Barn Near You

As rural churches struggle to keep their doors open, megachurches like Minnesota’s Eagle Brook are embracing technology to fill the void.

barnraisingmedia.com

Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 5d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 4d

I feel the same.

I am so heartbroken.
So very heartbroken.

Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 5d

*DEVELOPING*: I've updated my scoop with previously unreported details about the State Dept. staffer who requested the sword, NARA's response, and that the gift Trump gave King Charles III wasn't even a replica of Eisenhower's West Point Officer's Sabre:
lastcampaign.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you. I removed the repost.

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 5d

Just posting this. Everyone knows why.

Text of the fourth amendment “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 6d

Periodic reminder that marginal (& capital gains) tax rates are too low & this poses an existential threat to democracy & the rule of law

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

David Avallone @davallone.bsky.social · 8d

A great piece that hasn’t aged a day since 1941.

Play the game the next time you’re in a room full of people. I’ve played it. I think for some people it’s almost a reflex. “Which one of you would call the Gestapo on me, and which would watch, relieved, as I was taken from my home in the night?”

Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 8d

Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.

harpers.org/archive/1941...

Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson

harpers.org

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

PaulLev @paullev.bsky.social · 13d

Chances to see poet/philosopher Grzegorz Kwiatkowski in US this month and next

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Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 8d

So many debates!

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 9d

In grad school I told a poli sci prof I wanted to study Town Meeting (local legislatures) in Massachusetts and he replied "that's boring! It's about water and sewer system and (stuff) like that"

I didn’t ask him to be on my committee....he could not see the allure of the topic.

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 9d

I’m an epidemiologist. Sewage systems are sexy.

Dosco Jones @doscojones.bsky.social · 9d

I’m an engineer. Sewage systems are sexy.

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

John Castiglione @johncastiglione.bsky.social · 9d

She’s right as always

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 9d

AOC: I think there's two things that are happening at once: One, there absolutely is an unprecedented abuse of power, destruction of norms, erosion of our government and our democracy in order to prop up an authoritarian style of governance

However, they are weaker than they look…

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Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 9d

Department of Homeland Security is cutting over $187 million or 86% of homeland security funding to New York State which will radically defund NYPD, FDNY, and NY State Police terrorism programs, according to a letter from New York Governor Kathy Hochul to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

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