Alonna Despain
@adespain.bsky.social
Public Policy PhD-ing @UNC | Women, Peace and Security (WPS), Environmental Peacebuilding, Climate Security | M.S. Human Rights and Intl Law @ NYU | Recovering perfectionist and Dr. Pepper enthusiast
Hard to slow down from academia sometimes (especially studying in policy in today’s world), and I’m grateful I got the chance to recharge and experience some beauty and peace at a time where those things can feel impossible to find.
July 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Hard to slow down from academia sometimes (especially studying in policy in today’s world), and I’m grateful I got the chance to recharge and experience some beauty and peace at a time where those things can feel impossible to find.
Reposted by Alonna Despain
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
Reposted by Alonna Despain
BREAKING: Palestinian killed in Israeli attack in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and Israeli forces have opened fire on eastern areas of Gaza City, report our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/s2qadj
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/s2qadj
April 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Palestinian killed in Israeli attack in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and Israeli forces have opened fire on eastern areas of Gaza City, report our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/s2qadj
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/s2qadj
Reposted by Alonna Despain
When you look at the list of institutions they want to defund: libraries, museums, the Smithsonian, public schools, PBS, NPR, archives, you can clearly see that the real threat to an authoritarian regime is an informed and educated public
March 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
When you look at the list of institutions they want to defund: libraries, museums, the Smithsonian, public schools, PBS, NPR, archives, you can clearly see that the real threat to an authoritarian regime is an informed and educated public
Reposted by Alonna Despain
American war planning usually takes place in highly secure facilities. But the Trump administration planned its strikes on the Houthis using a group chat—and accidentally included The Atlantic’s editor in chief, @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social. theatln.tc/AmsjsuT6
March 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
American war planning usually takes place in highly secure facilities. But the Trump administration planned its strikes on the Houthis using a group chat—and accidentally included The Atlantic’s editor in chief, @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social. theatln.tc/AmsjsuT6
Dang, I must have missed the part of the 8th grade government and civics curriculum I taught as a public educator that said the courts answered to the executive branch 🤔
The White House blasted ‘activist’ federal judges and called on the US Supreme Court to rein them in as President Donald Trump and his allies escalated their attacks against judges who have ruled against his administration reut.rs/4kDflUM
White House calls on Supreme Court to rein in judges blocking Trump's agenda
The White House blasted "activist" federal judges and called on the U.S. Supreme Court to rein them in on Wednesday as President Donald Trump and his allies escalated their attacks against judges who have ruled against his administration.
reut.rs
March 20, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Dang, I must have missed the part of the 8th grade government and civics curriculum I taught as a public educator that said the courts answered to the executive branch 🤔
The irony of breaking into the U.S. Institute of Peace is not lost on me
DOGE broke into the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters in Northwest D.C. Monday evening, the independent nonprofit’s CEO said.
US Institute of Peace says DOGE has broken into its building
Employees of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have entered the U.S. Institute of Peace despite protests from the nonprofit that it is not part of the executive branch and is instead an ...
www.nbcwashington.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:49 AM
The irony of breaking into the U.S. Institute of Peace is not lost on me
Reposted by Alonna Despain
BREAKING: At least 100 Palestinians, including many children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip as Israeli officials threaten a ground invasion, according to Reuters.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/191eo5
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/191eo5
March 18, 2025 at 2:30 AM
BREAKING: At least 100 Palestinians, including many children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip as Israeli officials threaten a ground invasion, according to Reuters.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/191eo5
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/191eo5
Overjoyed realizing I got my first ever citation in a journal! 🥳 It’s from a portion of my master’s thesis with Jen Rauch on refugee exclusion in the WPS agenda. Surreal to be cited alongside authors we heavily cited in our thesis. Check it out here: alraidajournal.lau.edu.lb/images/05631...
March 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Overjoyed realizing I got my first ever citation in a journal! 🥳 It’s from a portion of my master’s thesis with Jen Rauch on refugee exclusion in the WPS agenda. Surreal to be cited alongside authors we heavily cited in our thesis. Check it out here: alraidajournal.lau.edu.lb/images/05631...
Reposted by Alonna Despain
Amnesty International has described the US arrest and detention of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil as part of a 'racist trend' across the world aimed at stifling Palestinian rights and solidarity.
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/kb975q
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/kb975q
Israeli attacks kill 5 in north Gaza, shelling hits southern Rafah area
Deadly attacks on Palestinians in Gaza continue as Hamas accuses Israeli PM of fearing successful ceasefire.
aje.io
March 15, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Amnesty International has described the US arrest and detention of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil as part of a 'racist trend' across the world aimed at stifling Palestinian rights and solidarity.
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/kb975q
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/kb975q
Advanced Regression midterm emotional support
February 20, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Advanced Regression midterm emotional support
Deeply fearful of what will begin today. Motivated by a love of humanity and the incredible community around me to keep fighting.
January 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Deeply fearful of what will begin today. Motivated by a love of humanity and the incredible community around me to keep fighting.
I’ve determined one of my favorite parts of having a partner also in a Ph.D. is that our home conversations are never boring and we get to be constantly learning from each other
January 1, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I’ve determined one of my favorite parts of having a partner also in a Ph.D. is that our home conversations are never boring and we get to be constantly learning from each other
This helped me to read today
December 1, 2024 at 6:55 PM
This helped me to read today
A bit late to the Blue Sky party but figured I’d introduce myself and hope the algorithm works its magic! I’m a first-year Ph.D student in Policy, working on WPS, environmental peacebuilding, and climate security!
Really looking forward to connecting here! ✨🎉
Really looking forward to connecting here! ✨🎉
November 26, 2024 at 4:49 PM
A bit late to the Blue Sky party but figured I’d introduce myself and hope the algorithm works its magic! I’m a first-year Ph.D student in Policy, working on WPS, environmental peacebuilding, and climate security!
Really looking forward to connecting here! ✨🎉
Really looking forward to connecting here! ✨🎉