Alex Kerchner
@akerchner.bsky.social
PhD candidate in comparative/American politics @PUPolitics, alum @nyulaw, @uw. Text analysis, elections, democracy, R, baseball, transit
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
A reminder that most Americans who are life-long citizens have nothing OTHER than a Real ID to prove their citizenship. This is CBP’s chief enforcer saying that ID doesn’t count.
Bovino, the man overseeing mass deportations, publicly declared that we must all have our papers on us, at all times, or we could be stopped, harassed, kidnapped, and detained, as they did with the man in this case, who is a US citizen.
December 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A reminder that most Americans who are life-long citizens have nothing OTHER than a Real ID to prove their citizenship. This is CBP’s chief enforcer saying that ID doesn’t count.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Eric Foner, in Second Founding (2019), notes that the only exclusions discussed in the congressional debates on the 14th Amendment citizenship language were newborns in independent Indian nations and those of foreign diplomats, exactly consistent with the traditional understanding of the Amendment
December 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Eric Foner, in Second Founding (2019), notes that the only exclusions discussed in the congressional debates on the 14th Amendment citizenship language were newborns in independent Indian nations and those of foreign diplomats, exactly consistent with the traditional understanding of the Amendment
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
If we accede to the demand that political appointees can decide what is worthwhile to study and what isn't, we've lost universities as institutions of knowledge, innovation, and progress. This is why academic freedom and tenure are so important.
This -- a model bill to effectively decimate non-STEM research by requiring 3-3 teaching loads outside of "STEM or Americanism and western civilization" -- seems...extremely bad but also quite plausible.
Proposed Model Bill Would Change College Tenure, Teaching, & Research
Three conservative groups have proposed model legislation that would dramatically change faculty tenure paths, teaching loads, research activities and hiring authority
www.forbes.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
If we accede to the demand that political appointees can decide what is worthwhile to study and what isn't, we've lost universities as institutions of knowledge, innovation, and progress. This is why academic freedom and tenure are so important.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
The US-Israel relationship has never been conditionalized upon Israel's behavior towards Palestinians and so it's genuinely disorienting to Israelis and (some) American Jews that more liberals than ever think it should. This is the underlying schism that will drive center left policy on the issue.
December 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The US-Israel relationship has never been conditionalized upon Israel's behavior towards Palestinians and so it's genuinely disorienting to Israelis and (some) American Jews that more liberals than ever think it should. This is the underlying schism that will drive center left policy on the issue.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
🚨Judge Xinis finds that, incredibly, Mr. Abrego Garcia was never ordered deported in 2019. She notes that every since this saga began all the way back in March, the government has NEVER been able to produce any evidence that the immigration judge actually issued a removal order.
December 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨Judge Xinis finds that, incredibly, Mr. Abrego Garcia was never ordered deported in 2019. She notes that every since this saga began all the way back in March, the government has NEVER been able to produce any evidence that the immigration judge actually issued a removal order.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Thinking back to how people were "hysterical" for calling trump white supremacist and now he's doing nordic theory on the campaign trail
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
In addition to all of the other benefits already reported about NYC congestion pricing, "In the first six months of the program, air pollution – in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller – dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)"
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Congestion pricing improved air quality in NYC and suburbs | Cornell Chronicle
Cornell researchers tallied the environmental benefits of New York City’s congestion pricing program and found air pollution dropped by 22% in Manhattan, with additional declines across the city’s fiv...
news.cornell.edu
December 9, 2025 at 2:19 AM
In addition to all of the other benefits already reported about NYC congestion pricing, "In the first six months of the program, air pollution – in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller – dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)"
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
These people have no idea what government does—no idea what the work of a government official is.
Duffy: "My daughter pointed out a video from Dr. Paul Saladino where he was complaining that there are no pull up bars in airports, which prompted me to call Sec. Kennedy to give me Paul's number to start the conversation."
December 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
These people have no idea what government does—no idea what the work of a government official is.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
They're using the confinement box, one of the most horrific methods of CIA torture in the post-9/11 black sites, against migrants now. This is the direct result of the lack of consequences for the architects of the torture program. Either there will be criminal penalties for this or it will expand.
Torture Techniques from CIA Black Sites Were Used at Alligator Alcatraz
Amnesty International, interviewing migrant detainees, identifies use of the confinement box. There can be no denying it is a torture prison
www.forever-wars.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
They're using the confinement box, one of the most horrific methods of CIA torture in the post-9/11 black sites, against migrants now. This is the direct result of the lack of consequences for the architects of the torture program. Either there will be criminal penalties for this or it will expand.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
The “garbage” destroying America isn’t in Minnesota’s Somalian community. It’s in the Oval Office. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The “garbage” destroying America isn’t in Minnesota’s Somalian community. It’s in the Oval Office. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
NEW: Last year we found the acceptable level of exposure to formaldehyde set by the EPA left people at risk for cancer.
Now the Trump administration has roughly doubled it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Now the Trump administration has roughly doubled it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Under Former Chemical Industry Insiders, Trump EPA Nearly Doubles Amount of Formaldehyde Considered Safe to Inhale
Chemical industry lobbyists have long pushed the government to adopt a less stringent approach to gauging the cancer risk from chemicals, one that would help ease regulations on companies that make or...
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
NEW: Last year we found the acceptable level of exposure to formaldehyde set by the EPA left people at risk for cancer.
Now the Trump administration has roughly doubled it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Now the Trump administration has roughly doubled it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
bad actors like wurman are why i think it is important to place the birthright clause in the full context of section 1 and section 1 in the context of both dred scott and the two decades of antislavery and abolitionist agitation and political thinking that proceeded it
The evidence is the text. All you have to do is read the Constitution.
December 7, 2025 at 7:09 PM
bad actors like wurman are why i think it is important to place the birthright clause in the full context of section 1 and section 1 in the context of both dred scott and the two decades of antislavery and abolitionist agitation and political thinking that proceeded it
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
It really cannot be stressed enough that if we don’t have birthright citizenship we don’t have citizenship.
The only Americans who have any proof of citizenship are either naturalized adults or the tiny fraction of natural born citizens who are born abroad. Everyone else has birthright citizenship.
The only Americans who have any proof of citizenship are either naturalized adults or the tiny fraction of natural born citizens who are born abroad. Everyone else has birthright citizenship.
December 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
It really cannot be stressed enough that if we don’t have birthright citizenship we don’t have citizenship.
The only Americans who have any proof of citizenship are either naturalized adults or the tiny fraction of natural born citizens who are born abroad. Everyone else has birthright citizenship.
The only Americans who have any proof of citizenship are either naturalized adults or the tiny fraction of natural born citizens who are born abroad. Everyone else has birthright citizenship.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Anyone who knows this history should know there’s no contested issue.
December 7, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Anyone who knows this history should know there’s no contested issue.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Trump's new National Security Strategy: what if groypers cosplayed George Kennan?
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
America has identified its greatest enemy: Western Europe
Trump's new National Security Strategy: what if groypers cosplayed George Kennan?
www.programmablemutter.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Trump's new National Security Strategy: what if groypers cosplayed George Kennan?
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
This is not some harmless joke. This is the “Hafez gives us wheat” billboards of my early visits to Syria.
When I saw the story in passing I thought it was the same dumb bit as the army parade, the fig leaf of using Flag Day because it happens to also be his birthday. But no, Trump's birthday as such is now an official commemoration for NPS free admission days.
www.nps.gov/planyourvisi...
www.nps.gov/planyourvisi...
December 6, 2025 at 11:27 AM
This is not some harmless joke. This is the “Hafez gives us wheat” billboards of my early visits to Syria.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Social cohesion can’t endure without some sort of penalty — opprobrium, shame, what have you — attaching to baldfaced, unrepentant lying.
December 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Social cohesion can’t endure without some sort of penalty — opprobrium, shame, what have you — attaching to baldfaced, unrepentant lying.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
If you have only one thing to read today...
"Universities are being retrofitted as fulfillment centers of cognitive convenience."
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
"Universities are being retrofitted as fulfillment centers of cognitive convenience."
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:04 AM
If you have only one thing to read today...
"Universities are being retrofitted as fulfillment centers of cognitive convenience."
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
"Universities are being retrofitted as fulfillment centers of cognitive convenience."
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Is it worth rebutting this complaining mischaracterization of how NIH review works?
The peer review NIH does is incredibly valuable and constructive. Compare the NIH BRAIN initiative to the European Brain initiative — which added peer review after an open letter of serious complaints.
The peer review NIH does is incredibly valuable and constructive. Compare the NIH BRAIN initiative to the European Brain initiative — which added peer review after an open letter of serious complaints.
December 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Is it worth rebutting this complaining mischaracterization of how NIH review works?
The peer review NIH does is incredibly valuable and constructive. Compare the NIH BRAIN initiative to the European Brain initiative — which added peer review after an open letter of serious complaints.
The peer review NIH does is incredibly valuable and constructive. Compare the NIH BRAIN initiative to the European Brain initiative — which added peer review after an open letter of serious complaints.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
BREAKING: Supreme Court GRANTS Texas request to restore redistricting maps
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
As I have been lamenting for years, the clear erroneous standard for District Court findings of fact has been rendered null & void by this Court.
Justice Kagan in dissent:
“We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision.”
Justice Kagan in dissent:
“We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision.”
December 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
As I have been lamenting for years, the clear erroneous standard for District Court findings of fact has been rendered null & void by this Court.
Justice Kagan in dissent:
“We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision.”
Justice Kagan in dissent:
“We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision.”
Reposted by Alex Kerchner
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.
December 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.