Rebecca M. Townsend
@rmtownsend.bsky.social
Deliberation, democracy & public engagement scholar #TeamRhetoric #Commsky politics in US & #CEE #transportation, public memory, Town Meeting. Lifter. Vlach/Aromanian #WMASS @TownModerator.bsky.social
Pinned
#BeyondTheColdWar Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
We should’ve known when they brought in Tom Homan
The “draw down” of ICE in Minnesota is nothing but a hoax
-They’re still threatening protesters at gunpoint
-They continue to conduct warrantless arrests
-Kids are still being detained
It’s only a matter of time before they kill somebody else
The “draw down” of ICE in Minnesota is nothing but a hoax
-They’re still threatening protesters at gunpoint
-They continue to conduct warrantless arrests
-Kids are still being detained
It’s only a matter of time before they kill somebody else
February 6, 2026 at 12:43 AM
We should’ve known when they brought in Tom Homan
The “draw down” of ICE in Minnesota is nothing but a hoax
-They’re still threatening protesters at gunpoint
-They continue to conduct warrantless arrests
-Kids are still being detained
It’s only a matter of time before they kill somebody else
The “draw down” of ICE in Minnesota is nothing but a hoax
-They’re still threatening protesters at gunpoint
-They continue to conduct warrantless arrests
-Kids are still being detained
It’s only a matter of time before they kill somebody else
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
I’m very happy that the CBC is on the story and published this Evan Dyer piece. Now is the time to take the Trump admin’s destabilization tactics seriously. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
ANALYSIS | U.S. interest in Alberta separatism raises red flags over what might come next | CBC News
Communications between the Trump administration and Alberta's separatist movement raised alarm at the highest levels in Canada last week. It also raised questions about Washington's possible intention...
www.cbc.ca
February 6, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I’m very happy that the CBC is on the story and published this Evan Dyer piece. Now is the time to take the Trump admin’s destabilization tactics seriously. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
1/ I’m really, really happy because my new essay has just been published in Project Syndicate - one of the world’s most influential outlets for opinion and analysis. Among its contributors are, among others, Timothy Snyder, Francis Fukuyama, and Timothy Garton Ash
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
1/ I’m really, really happy because my new essay has just been published in Project Syndicate - one of the world’s most influential outlets for opinion and analysis. Among its contributors are, among others, Timothy Snyder, Francis Fukuyama, and Timothy Garton Ash
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Quinnipiac poll | 1/29-2/2 RV
President Trump approval
Disapprove 56% (+2)
Approve 37% (-3)
poll.qu.edu/poll-release...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 56% (+2)
Approve 37% (-3)
poll.qu.edu/poll-release...
February 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Quinnipiac poll | 1/29-2/2 RV
President Trump approval
Disapprove 56% (+2)
Approve 37% (-3)
poll.qu.edu/poll-release...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 56% (+2)
Approve 37% (-3)
poll.qu.edu/poll-release...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Breaking News: The Supreme Court cleared the way for California to use a new congressional map designed to help Democrats in the midterms.
Supreme Court Clears Way for California Voting Map
The state’s Republican Party had asked the justices to step in and block the new congressional maps, which give an advantage to Democrats, before the midterms.
nyti.ms
February 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Breaking News: The Supreme Court cleared the way for California to use a new congressional map designed to help Democrats in the midterms.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Context: one of the speakers at a packed Surprise, AZ city council meeting after it was revealed that ICE has purchased a massive warehouse in town to use as a detention facility. The City Council has said they didn't know about it, and have no authority to stop it.
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
February 4, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Context: one of the speakers at a packed Surprise, AZ city council meeting after it was revealed that ICE has purchased a massive warehouse in town to use as a detention facility. The City Council has said they didn't know about it, and have no authority to stop it.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
The 413's congressmen have joined an effort to have Homeland Security @Sec_Noem removed from office. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2026/01/mcgo...
McGovern and Neal Join Drive to Boot Noem from the Cabinet… — Western Mass Politics & Insight
Both of the 413’s Congressmen, Richard Neal and James McGovern have cosponsored an impeachment resolution against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
wmasspi.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:04 PM
The 413's congressmen have joined an effort to have Homeland Security @Sec_Noem removed from office. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2026/01/mcgo...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
We’re literally killing ourselves. They’ve been working on cutting edge cancer vaccines
Moderna announced that they’re cutting back late-stage vaccine trials due to the uncertainty in the US market www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
Moderna chief: Company won’t invest in new late-stage vaccine trials
Moderna has already been facing declines in sales after a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
February 4, 2026 at 7:03 AM
We’re literally killing ourselves. They’ve been working on cutting edge cancer vaccines
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
According to FOX 9, a Minneapolis federal judge demanded to know why DOJ is missing deadlines & AUSA Julie Le said, "The system sucks, this job sucks" & asked to be held in contempt so she could sleep.
PACER shows she got assigned to defend the govt in 88+ cases since Operation Metro Surge started.
PACER shows she got assigned to defend the govt in 88+ cases since Operation Metro Surge started.
February 3, 2026 at 9:27 PM
According to FOX 9, a Minneapolis federal judge demanded to know why DOJ is missing deadlines & AUSA Julie Le said, "The system sucks, this job sucks" & asked to be held in contempt so she could sleep.
PACER shows she got assigned to defend the govt in 88+ cases since Operation Metro Surge started.
PACER shows she got assigned to defend the govt in 88+ cases since Operation Metro Surge started.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
www.youtube.com/@JudiciaryCe...
Yikes… while the video is well-done and I love the sentiment, it’s not real.
Yikes… while the video is well-done and I love the sentiment, it’s not real.
February 2, 2026 at 10:38 PM
www.youtube.com/@JudiciaryCe...
Yikes… while the video is well-done and I love the sentiment, it’s not real.
Yikes… while the video is well-done and I love the sentiment, it’s not real.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Fellow Arkansan on here, let’s talk about pressuring our delegation to stand up for one of our state’s great contributions to American cultural life.
Considering The Kennedy Center was designed by Arkansan Edward Durrell Stone, maybe my representatives in Washington could intervene to insist this classic piece of modern architecture is preserved.
He’s gonna tear down the Kennedy Center.
February 3, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Fellow Arkansan on here, let’s talk about pressuring our delegation to stand up for one of our state’s great contributions to American cultural life.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
also, this, from the New York Times, is correct, Bad Bunny should not have had to be the first of the night’s broadcast to make an explicit anti-ICE statement. "
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Opinion | Bad Bunny’s High-Risk Choice: Three Opinion Writers Discuss the Grammys
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:50 AM
also, this, from the New York Times, is correct, Bad Bunny should not have had to be the first of the night’s broadcast to make an explicit anti-ICE statement. "
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Much like the White House, the Kennedy Center does not belong to the president and he doesn't get to just do with it as he pleases.
The time to seek every kind of injunction imaginable is now, unless you want the view from the Watergate to look like the East Wing, too
Hope we learned that lesson!
The time to seek every kind of injunction imaginable is now, unless you want the view from the Watergate to look like the East Wing, too
Hope we learned that lesson!
February 1, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Much like the White House, the Kennedy Center does not belong to the president and he doesn't get to just do with it as he pleases.
The time to seek every kind of injunction imaginable is now, unless you want the view from the Watergate to look like the East Wing, too
Hope we learned that lesson!
The time to seek every kind of injunction imaginable is now, unless you want the view from the Watergate to look like the East Wing, too
Hope we learned that lesson!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
The person to watch is David Rubenstein, who has poured millions in philanthropy into the Kennedy Center, is not going to be pleased about this, and has money, ego, and patriotism long enough to sustain a long-ass legal battle.
Particularly since his cash isn't crypto.
Particularly since his cash isn't crypto.
Trump: "I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything."
February 1, 2026 at 11:53 PM
The person to watch is David Rubenstein, who has poured millions in philanthropy into the Kennedy Center, is not going to be pleased about this, and has money, ego, and patriotism long enough to sustain a long-ass legal battle.
Particularly since his cash isn't crypto.
Particularly since his cash isn't crypto.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
New picture of DC dropped.
a very tall building with a lot of windows and a bridge in the background
ALT: a very tall building with a lot of windows and a bridge in the background
media.tenor.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM
New picture of DC dropped.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
February 1, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
"“Triumph of the Will” is very controversial, but you can’t deny that as a piece of filmmaking it is a very impressive achievement. You can like something without agreeing with its politics."
"Yes, probably so."
"Yes, probably so."
February 1, 2026 at 11:56 PM
"“Triumph of the Will” is very controversial, but you can’t deny that as a piece of filmmaking it is a very impressive achievement. You can like something without agreeing with its politics."
"Yes, probably so."
"Yes, probably so."
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
I was hanging up curtains one time, and I sort of shouted over at my spouse that I wished they made apartment friendly curtain rods that you didn’t have to screw into the wall. Literally the next day I started getting ads for them.
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Class-action lawsuit alleged that Google's voice assistant illegally recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers.
www.cbsnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:21 PM
I was hanging up curtains one time, and I sort of shouted over at my spouse that I wished they made apartment friendly curtain rods that you didn’t have to screw into the wall. Literally the next day I started getting ads for them.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
It is wild to send an email claiming that a bill that would prevent people from making AI-generated videos of candidates saying things they never said is being framed as an attack on the first amendment rights *of the person creating the misinformation.*
February 1, 2026 at 11:29 PM
It is wild to send an email claiming that a bill that would prevent people from making AI-generated videos of candidates saying things they never said is being framed as an attack on the first amendment rights *of the person creating the misinformation.*
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
… The Center “will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country”
February 1, 2026 at 11:29 PM
… The Center “will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country”
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, who covers Hampshire and Franklin counties, said the rights of residents need to be protected despite actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://bit.ly/3Z907NS
https://bit.ly/3Z907NS
WMass prosecutor says he would charge federal immigration authorities if state crimes are committed
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, who covers Hampshire and Franklin counties, said the rights of residents need to be protected despite actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, who covers Hampshire and Franklin counties, said the rights of residents need to be protected despite actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://bit.ly/3Z907NS
https://bit.ly/3Z907NS
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
January 30, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
According to the Pew Research Center, about 6% of US journalists identify as Black.
Among journalists recently arrested by the Republican regime, 100% identify as Black.
www.ap.org/news-highlig...
Among journalists recently arrested by the Republican regime, 100% identify as Black.
www.ap.org/news-highlig...
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
January 30, 2026 at 11:50 PM
According to the Pew Research Center, about 6% of US journalists identify as Black.
Among journalists recently arrested by the Republican regime, 100% identify as Black.
www.ap.org/news-highlig...
Among journalists recently arrested by the Republican regime, 100% identify as Black.
www.ap.org/news-highlig...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Deep breathing is necessary as new Epstein files drop.
The Epstein files are dripping out again.
This one that mentions Trump is incredibly disturbing.
This one that mentions Trump is incredibly disturbing.
January 31, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Deep breathing is necessary as new Epstein files drop.