Rob Shum
@robshum.bsky.social
Public policy ( #climate / energy policy, more specifically ) & IR prof (but also ex-🇨🇦 trade diplomat). PoliSciSky 🗺️, EnergySky 🔌💡, & GreenSky 🌱.
Cf. same handles on birdsite & mastodon.social/@robshum
Cf. same handles on birdsite & mastodon.social/@robshum
Pinned
Rob Shum
@robshum.bsky.social
· Oct 28
You don't have to ask <if> or <when> 🇺🇸 democracy will backslide. It it hadn't already, we would not be speculating about where the loyalty of the generals lies & whether that might matter in a matter of days/weeks.
I think it is safe to say that after this week, Trump does not have the loyalty of the generals. That means something
How many “Republics” have the USA had? As many as France?
1 possible way to count:
1. Articles of Confederation
2. Current (unamended) Constitution
3. Post-Civil-War
4. Post-Civil-Rights
And we’re currently witnessing an Algerian-type crisis, and waiting for a Fifth Republic.
1 possible way to count:
1. Articles of Confederation
2. Current (unamended) Constitution
3. Post-Civil-War
4. Post-Civil-Rights
And we’re currently witnessing an Algerian-type crisis, and waiting for a Fifth Republic.
Reposted by Rob Shum
"The bill for a $21 ball of yarn now includes $12 to $15 in brokerage fees that her shipper UPS charges, plus state taxes and a 6.5% tariff, all of which almost doubles her costs."
“It’s amazing how many people really didn’t know what the impact was going to be.”
apnews.com/article/de-m...
“It’s amazing how many people really didn’t know what the impact was going to be.”
apnews.com/article/de-m...
Sellers in other countries struggle to maintain US customers as holiday shopping season starts
Small businesses are struggling to adapt since the U.S. ended the "de minimis" exemption on Aug. 29, which allowed imports under $800 to be tariff-free.
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
"The bill for a $21 ball of yarn now includes $12 to $15 in brokerage fees that her shipper UPS charges, plus state taxes and a 6.5% tariff, all of which almost doubles her costs."
“It’s amazing how many people really didn’t know what the impact was going to be.”
apnews.com/article/de-m...
“It’s amazing how many people really didn’t know what the impact was going to be.”
apnews.com/article/de-m...
Reposted by Rob Shum
SCOOP—In August, nearly 200 current/former FEMA staffers published the Katrina Declaration, a whistleblower letter detailing all the dangers posed by current leadership.
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
FEMA employee terminated for signing whistleblower letter
It appears to be a major violation of federal whistleblower protections and constitutional rights.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
SCOOP—In August, nearly 200 current/former FEMA staffers published the Katrina Declaration, a whistleblower letter detailing all the dangers posed by current leadership.
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
Reposted by Rob Shum
"It was supposed to be a celebratory milestone, the final step in the process to obtain U.S. permanent residency. Instead, as each interview with an immigration officer wrapped up, federal agents swooped in, handcuffed the foreign spouse and took him or her away."
“I had to take the baby from my crying wife’s arms.“ It hasn’t even been a year, and this is not a scandal anymore? What is wrong with us?
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
"It was supposed to be a celebratory milestone, the final step in the process to obtain U.S. permanent residency. Instead, as each interview with an immigration officer wrapped up, federal agents swooped in, handcuffed the foreign spouse and took him or her away."
This reminds me of St. Alban’s, England, where historical plaques explained how the Roman bricks there would be re-used, after the knowledge of how to make new ones was lost.
Right now on reddit there's a guy inventing a new kind of brick to build his home with and it's going about as well as you can imagine
November 26, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This reminds me of St. Alban’s, England, where historical plaques explained how the Roman bricks there would be re-used, after the knowledge of how to make new ones was lost.
Reposted by Rob Shum
Taking Donald Trump’s evident cognitive deterioration seriously
Taking Donald Trump's evident cognitive deterioration seriously - Lawyers, Guns & Money
This is a followup to Scott’s post about the NYT publishing a story this morning that suggests in the most mealy-mouthed and hedged way possible that just maybe somebody might have some questions about whether there might be something problematic about Donald Trump’s mental state, related to his age. This by the way is a […]
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Taking Donald Trump’s evident cognitive deterioration seriously
Reposted by Rob Shum
ICE placing kids in shelters, though, when they have parents or guardians to care for them, echoes the widely condemned policy of separating families at the border in Trump’s first term attorneys said: “They are creating unaccompanied children this way.” 8/ www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record.
Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border. New data suggests separations are happening all over the count...
www.propublica.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
ICE placing kids in shelters, though, when they have parents or guardians to care for them, echoes the widely condemned policy of separating families at the border in Trump’s first term attorneys said: “They are creating unaccompanied children this way.” 8/ www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Rob Shum
In a policy advocates have called "unspeakably cruel," the Trump administration has frozen the distribution of Green Cards to more than 230,000 people approved for refugee status under Biden, who have already undergone extensive vetting.
'Unspeakably Cruel': Trump Freezes Green Cards to 235,000 Refugees Admitted Under Biden
"These are refugees who fled persecution...refugees who had been more thoroughly vetted than any other population before entering our country," said the head of the Refugee Council USA.
www.commondreams.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
In a policy advocates have called "unspeakably cruel," the Trump administration has frozen the distribution of Green Cards to more than 230,000 people approved for refugee status under Biden, who have already undergone extensive vetting.
Reposted by Rob Shum
Some may take comfort in Trump not being able (yet) to jail his enemies, but these attacks are costly and deter people from opposing him. In that way, they tilt the playing field even when the efforts at retribution are not fully successful. Precisely what competitive authoritarian regimes look like
NYT: “.. Trump is facing obstacles as he tries to use the Justice Department to investigate, prosecute and jail those he targets.”
But his appointees “are harnessing a range of departments .. and rarely used powers outside the Justice Department to inflict pain.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
But his appointees “are harnessing a range of departments .. and rarely used powers outside the Justice Department to inflict pain.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Some may take comfort in Trump not being able (yet) to jail his enemies, but these attacks are costly and deter people from opposing him. In that way, they tilt the playing field even when the efforts at retribution are not fully successful. Precisely what competitive authoritarian regimes look like
Reposted by Rob Shum
This reporter will get vile death threats and may need security just for doing her job. Not acceptable.
November 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This reporter will get vile death threats and may need security just for doing her job. Not acceptable.
Reposted by Rob Shum
Stunning. The Trump administration has claimed the police were slow to protect federal agents on Oct. 4, but videos and audio show that their rationale conflates hours of events involving a shooting, a protest, a car crash and a police radio call. @nytimes.com
Times Analysis Finds Errors in Trump’s Supreme Court Filing That Calls for National Guard in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Stunning. The Trump administration has claimed the police were slow to protect federal agents on Oct. 4, but videos and audio show that their rationale conflates hours of events involving a shooting, a protest, a car crash and a police radio call. @nytimes.com
Reposted by Rob Shum
The person with the most demanding job in the world should not be so old they get fatigued after a few hours. (It's been almost nine years since we had a president under 70.)
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The person with the most demanding job in the world should not be so old they get fatigued after a few hours. (It's been almost nine years since we had a president under 70.)
Reposted by Rob Shum
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
The Trump government is hiring thousands of BOUNTY HUNTERS to expand their violent kidnappings and terrorism throughout the country, showering private “surveillance firms” with hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Trump government is hiring thousands of BOUNTY HUNTERS to expand their violent kidnappings and terrorism throughout the country, showering private “surveillance firms” with hundreds of millions of dollars.
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lifted a $180 million cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program while guaranteeing multimillion-dollar payouts for private surveillance firms.
www.wired.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
The Trump government is hiring thousands of BOUNTY HUNTERS to expand their violent kidnappings and terrorism throughout the country, showering private “surveillance firms” with hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Trump government is hiring thousands of BOUNTY HUNTERS to expand their violent kidnappings and terrorism throughout the country, showering private “surveillance firms” with hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reposted by Rob Shum
Meanwhile Texas has also seen a reduction in gas.......because it was replaced with coal (and all the new renewables were diverted to meeting new demand instead of eliminating fossil fuels)
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Meanwhile Texas has also seen a reduction in gas.......because it was replaced with coal (and all the new renewables were diverted to meeting new demand instead of eliminating fossil fuels)
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
Reposted by Rob Shum
The new face of CDC's public health emergency response is someone who:
-- Promoted hydroxychloroquine & ivermectin as COVID-19 remedies
-- Eliminated vaccine promotion campaigns in Louisiana
-- Believes COVID-19 vaccines cause significant bodily injury
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
-- Promoted hydroxychloroquine & ivermectin as COVID-19 remedies
-- Eliminated vaccine promotion campaigns in Louisiana
-- Believes COVID-19 vaccines cause significant bodily injury
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as C.D.C.’s Second in Command
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The new face of CDC's public health emergency response is someone who:
-- Promoted hydroxychloroquine & ivermectin as COVID-19 remedies
-- Eliminated vaccine promotion campaigns in Louisiana
-- Believes COVID-19 vaccines cause significant bodily injury
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
-- Promoted hydroxychloroquine & ivermectin as COVID-19 remedies
-- Eliminated vaccine promotion campaigns in Louisiana
-- Believes COVID-19 vaccines cause significant bodily injury
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
Reposted by Rob Shum
If you’re flying this holiday season, know your rights before heading to the airport.
Know Your Rights | Enforcement at the Airport | ACLU
At the border, you are likely to encounter Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, and you may encounter Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. HSI is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Know your rights in these scenarios.
www.aclu.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
If you’re flying this holiday season, know your rights before heading to the airport.
Reposted by Rob Shum
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
“The Amazon rainforest, origin of the cacao bean, is giving life to a nascent craft chocolate movement in 🇧🇷.
Global traders have long bought cacao beans grown in the forest at relatively low prices and sold them to big 🍫 brands abroad. Now, the new Brazilian chocolatiers are catering to their …” 🌱
Global traders have long bought cacao beans grown in the forest at relatively low prices and sold them to big 🍫 brands abroad. Now, the new Brazilian chocolatiers are catering to their …” 🌱
These Chocolatiers Found a Delicious Way to Help the Amazon
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
“The Amazon rainforest, origin of the cacao bean, is giving life to a nascent craft chocolate movement in 🇧🇷.
Global traders have long bought cacao beans grown in the forest at relatively low prices and sold them to big 🍫 brands abroad. Now, the new Brazilian chocolatiers are catering to their …” 🌱
Global traders have long bought cacao beans grown in the forest at relatively low prices and sold them to big 🍫 brands abroad. Now, the new Brazilian chocolatiers are catering to their …” 🌱
“…incentives also raise thorny quest’ns about who should shoulder the fin. risk that comes with generating energy for wealthy tech co.s. Critics say that such efforts should not be subsidized by taxpayers & that big ☢️ projects are particularly risky b/c they are often plagued by huge cost overruns…”
Trump officials give $1 billion loan to restart Three Mile Island
The plan to reopen Three Mile Island to supply Microsoft with power wins a federal loan guarantee, shifting some of the risk onto taxpayers.
wapo.st
November 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
“…incentives also raise thorny quest’ns about who should shoulder the fin. risk that comes with generating energy for wealthy tech co.s. Critics say that such efforts should not be subsidized by taxpayers & that big ☢️ projects are particularly risky b/c they are often plagued by huge cost overruns…”
Reposted by Rob Shum
"EPA estimated that the [rule] would prevent 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032" Just your reminder that the Clean Air Act requires standards to be protective of public health with an adequate margin of safety - that is based on what protects the public.
The EPA is abandoning a rule that would strengthen limits on fine-particle pollution, a move scientists and experts say could lead to dirtier air and more deaths.
Trump EPA to abandon air pollution rule that would prevent thousands of U.S. deaths
The Environmental Protection Agency will no longer defend Biden-era limits on fine-particle pollution, which causes heart and lung disease.
wapo.st
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
"EPA estimated that the [rule] would prevent 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032" Just your reminder that the Clean Air Act requires standards to be protective of public health with an adequate margin of safety - that is based on what protects the public.
As every clever child figures out early in toddlerhood, the way to get what you want is to push every boundary, and slice every salami as close as you can.
The fact that the Trump administration is bullying the BBC (because the UK has strict libel laws) and Mark Kelly (because they can use military justice to go after him) is disgusting but also a sign they are able to support primarily edge cases for their bullying
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 PM
As every clever child figures out early in toddlerhood, the way to get what you want is to push every boundary, and slice every salami as close as you can.
Haha 😆 !
It’s funny because 🦃🦃 aren’t human, and universal standards of treatment for respecting human dignity don’t apply to out-groups, immigrants, or ethnic minorities, let alone out-species!!
It’s funny because 🦃🦃 aren’t human, and universal standards of treatment for respecting human dignity don’t apply to out-groups, immigrants, or ethnic minorities, let alone out-species!!
Trump: "Instead of pardons, some of my more enthusiastic staffers were already drafting the paperwork to ship Gobble and Waddle straight to the Terrorist Confinement Center in El Salvador."
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Haha 😆 !
It’s funny because 🦃🦃 aren’t human, and universal standards of treatment for respecting human dignity don’t apply to out-groups, immigrants, or ethnic minorities, let alone out-species!!
It’s funny because 🦃🦃 aren’t human, and universal standards of treatment for respecting human dignity don’t apply to out-groups, immigrants, or ethnic minorities, let alone out-species!!
Reposted by Rob Shum
Not only global in scope, but as I've been arguing for a while and developing in my book project, reacting to global shifts as much as to domestic politics and culture wars. The global and the local feed into each other.
Definitely an overlooked point: The authoritarian far right, including its white nationalist iterations, are self-consciously global in scope and liberals need to adapt to that:
The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Not only global in scope, but as I've been arguing for a while and developing in my book project, reacting to global shifts as much as to domestic politics and culture wars. The global and the local feed into each other.
How Democracy Dies.
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
How Democracy Dies.
I cannot imagine how hard professional militaries in adversary autocracies are laughing.
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I cannot imagine how hard professional militaries in adversary autocracies are laughing.
Reposted by Rob Shum
In a personalist regime, the leader always gets a taste.
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 PM
In a personalist regime, the leader always gets a taste.
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗