Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Linda Tropp

@lindatropp.bsky.social

770 followers 150 following 230 posts

social psychologist at UMass Amherst, studying intergroup relations, social division, status inequalities, and bridging differences; passionate about translating academic research to make the world a better place.. and dogs 🐾 more at: www.lindatropp.com .. more

Videos

Political science 35%

Sociology 32%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 16h

these are not easy times, people... please reach out to people you love, just to let them know you care... and please reach out to others if you need to be reminded of how much other people love and care about you 💚

2 1

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 1d

this may well be my new favorite news segment...

youtube.com/shorts/lVpaa...

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 2d

40 years ago, in high school, I stood on Michigan Ave holding hands with strangers for "Hands Across America" as a statement of national unity and to raise awareness of hunger faced by so many Americans. My heart is still with the people of Chicago, who are standing together for human dignity. 🙏❤️

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 2d

Michigan Avenue right now.

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 2d

Michigan Avenue right now.

1K 11K 41K

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 6d

100%.

More alternatives for how universities might respond available here:
share.google/gUgVHLmeeguV...

Stand Together

share.google

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 7d

thank you for your kind responses 🙏

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp

Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 7d

It’s hard to feel like any work matters except work to stop what’s happening and make a better world than before.

3 14 89

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 9d

I am humbled and most grateful to the anonymous donors who made it possible for us to establish the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program at UMass, and who were pioneers in envisioning how scientific research could be used to promote peace and nonviolence in the world. 🙏

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 9d

It feels auspicious to be sharing this on the eve of Yom Kippur, but...

I have just been appointed as the Endowed University Chair in Peace Psychology at UMass Amherst
@umassamherst.bsky.social

6 45

Reposted by Gordon Hodson, Jennifer A. Richeson, Andrew Livingstone

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 10d

Feeling grateful the address I delivered upon receiving the Lewin Memorial Award has just been published in the September 2025 issue of Journal of Social Issues!

It appears as an open access article, for any and all who may be interested:

spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

5 14

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 18d

@gordonhodsonphd.bsky.social you might also be interested in this paper, now available online = written version of my Kurt Lewin Award address!

A Renaissance of Social Relevance: Maximizing Insights and the Impact of Psychological Research - Journal of Social Issues share.google/PGAumIQwUmm4...

SPSSI Journals

Within each generation of academics, perennial, soul-searching questions emerge regarding whether and how psychological research can have meaningful impact, and calls for the broader applicability an....

share.google

1 1

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 18d

thanks kindly for the shout out @gordonhodsonphd.bsky.social ! 🙏

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp

Representative Jim McGovern @repmcgovern.bsky.social · 21d

I’ve seen what authoritarianism looks like.

For decades I've called out leaders in Russia & China who silence dissent. Now Trump is doing it here: using state power to crush opposition to the government.

His conduct is anti-democratic & anti-American. We must fight it.

Trump's moves against media outlets mirror authoritarian approaches to silencing dissent

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has waged an aggressive campaign against the media unlike any in modern U.S. history, making moves similar to those of authoritarian leaders that...

www.pbs.org

7 13 51

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Linda R. Tropp, Laurent Pech , and 6 more Brendan Nyhan, Linda R. Tropp, Laurent Pech, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Dominik Vogel, Samantha Brennan, Kate Starbird, David Darmofal

Zack Beauchamp @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social · 21d

The past week has shown us something scary — the concrete and specific outlines of a durable authoritarian state in America.

Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.

www.vox.com/politics/462...

This is how Trump ends democracy

The past week has revealed Trump’s policy road map to veto one-party rule. Will Americans let him follow it?

www.vox.com

22 220 470

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · 22d

Want to connect with others building a movement around democracy and social cohesion in the US? Please join us for tomorrow's session, and share with others who may be interested!

www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel...

#democracy #socialcohesion #civiclife #DemAID

The State of the Civic Movement in the U.S. Friday Sept 19 from 11:30 - 1:30 pm ET Please join the TRUST Network and DemocracyAID on Friday, Sept 19, from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET for an inspiring… | D...

www.linkedin.com

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Sep 10

NYT editorial board: "This is not how economic policy is supposed to work in a wealthy, democratic country...Trump’s approach [reads] like something out of Venezuela or Russia, where political leaders use threats and insults to cow business executives into submission"
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/o...

Opinion | Trump Is Treating the Economy Like His Family Business

www.nytimes.com

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Sep 8

check out this short video of protestors putting a name to the deluge of federal actions we're witnessing: fascism

youtu.be/wxPBK-5N6UU?...

video output road protest against fascism

YouTube video by Robin O'Herin

youtu.be

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp, Caroline T. Schroeder, Alfie Kohn , and 1 more Linda R. Tropp, Caroline T. Schroeder, Alfie Kohn, Gwénola Ricordeau

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · Sep 6

How is this not a screaming massive headline across every news site? This is insane, a virtual declaration of civil war. We fought a revolution to not be subjected to this kind of tyranny

140 830 3.4K

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Jennifer A. Richeson, Linda R. Tropp , and 1 more Stephen M. Walt, Jennifer A. Richeson, Linda R. Tropp, Anita Gohdes

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Aug 28

What can we do about racism?

Check out this 1-minute video from @redwineblueusa.bsky.social for some basic things we can all do

youtu.be/5oWrsdMdN9A?...

What Can We Do About Racism

YouTube video by Red Wine and Blue

youtu.be

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Brendan Nyhan, Linda R. Tropp , and 2 more Lisa W. Fazio, Brendan Nyhan, Linda R. Tropp, David Rothschild, Daxton R. Stewart

Reposted by Jacob Montgomery, Mirya R. Holman, David R. Miller , and 1 more Jacob Montgomery, Mirya R. Holman, David R. Miller, Kathleen Kennedy

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Aug 24

what it feels like to be gearing up for a new semester in the United States #academicsky

2 64 340

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp, Jacob T. Levy

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · Aug 24

@polphilpod.bsky.social wrote a great piece on this theme a while back: www.liberalcurrents.com/trump-alarmi...

2 49 160

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Aug 22

only 61 years ago. the civil rights struggles of the 1960s are not ancient history-FWIW, I was born 6 yrs after FLH's speech. it might feel like "settled law" but, as @sifill.bsky.social notes, many are pushing us to return to life before civil rights and other critical steps toward racial equality.

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Aug 22

61 years ago today Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer one of the most courageous activists of the Civil Rights Movement posed the question that echoes today with every migrant round-up by masked officers, as federal troops converge on D.C.,as institutions are threatened:

“IS THIS AMERICA?”

youtu.be/DFC1nc3IXBM

Fannie Lou Hamer's Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Speech

YouTube video by Northwest African American Museum

youtu.be

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp, Stephen Pimpare

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Aug 22

Fannie Lou Hamer's Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Speech

YouTube video by Northwest African American Museum

youtu.be

43 670 1.7K

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp, Seth Masket

Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · Aug 22

It’s about racism and pretending it’s not about racism will not magically erase the racism

120 1.2K 3.3K

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Aug 22

five practical steps any and all of us can take, courtesy of @rbreich.bsky.social

as he says, "democracy is not a spectator sport" ✊🏻

youtu.be/8W-lVRQQGtI?...

Five Ways to Fight Trump's Fascism

YouTube video by Robert Reich

youtu.be

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp

Migration Policy Institute @migrationpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 21

Around the world, immigration is sparking debate. Many see economic benefits, while also fearing rapid demographic change

@lindatropp.bsky.social joins our World of Migration podcast to speak about how meaningful contact between groups can build trust & reduce prejudice

Listen and subscribe

1 1 4

Reposted by Efrén O. Pérez, Jr

Linda Tropp @lindatropp.bsky.social · Aug 20

A letter to US public servants:

"After years of hard jobs in hard places—defusing crises, tending alliances, opening markets, and helping Americans in distress—you deserved better."

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

A Letter to America’s Discarded Public Servants

You all deserved better.

www.theatlantic.com

1 24 110

Reposted by Linda R. Tropp

Representative Jim McGovern @repmcgovern.bsky.social · Aug 20

Republicans are spending trillions on tax cuts for billionaires and nuclear weapons while working folks are struggling to pay medical bills they shouldn’t have.

It doesn't have to be this way–their cruelty is a choice.

2 14 44