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Reposted by Benjamin Soskis

Brian Galle @bdgesq.bsky.social · 3d

Just to develop the tax / nonprofit angle a bit more, the last sentence (allowing donors to claw back donations) would violate every 501(c)(3) organization's governing documents, and make them ineligible for deductible contributions. State orgs a little more complicated but likely same result.

Ryan Doerfler @ryandoerfler.bsky.social · 3d

By far the most important text in the compact is its final paragraph, which reads:

Adherence to this agreement shall be subject to review by the Department of Justice. Universities found to have willfully or negligently violated this agreement shall lose access to the benefits of this agreement for a period of no less than 1 year. Subsequent violations of this agreement shall result in a loss of access to the benefits of this agreement for no less than 2 years. Further, upon determination of any violations, all monies advanced by the U.S. government during the year of any violation shall be returned to the U.S. government. Finally, any private contributions to the university during the year(s) in which such violation occurred shall be returned to the grantor upon the request of the grantor.

The effect of the agreement is to hang a sword of Damocles over any compact-signing university that is not there today.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 5d

That rare initiative in which excessive philanthropic power and state power are exquisitely intertwined.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/u...

The Billionaire Behind Trump’s Deal for Universities

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 6d

Is this populism? [Butterfly meme]

Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 9d

CEO of DonorsTrust, the conservative DAF supporting org, warns Free Press against "weaponiz[ing] philanthropy in a way that is antithetical to philanthropic freedom.” Key to stress that defense of civil society extends across ideological & partisan spectrum.
www.thefp.com/p/conservati...

Conservative Philanthropy CEO to Trump: Don’t Attack Liberal Nonprofits

Any revenge by the Trump administration against liberal foundations and other groups “is going to come back to haunt us,” Lawson Bader of DonorsTrust tells @gekaminsky.

www.thefp.com

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 12d

I want to flag an exchange in Ross Douthat's recent NYT interview with May Mailman, "the Harvard-Trained Layer Behind Trump's Fight Against Top Universities," as the Times put it, in which Mailman directly discusses the relationship btw govt funding and philanthropy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/o...

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 13d

New HistPhil post: I gave close watch to two cong. hearings this summer on fed funding of nonprofits to get a better sense of scope of the right's antagonism to nonprofits. One striking dimension: stirrings of MAGA voluntarism premised on split btw good & bad nonprofits.
histphil.org/2025/09/25/n...

NGO Attacks Gone Wild and the Stirrings of MAGA Voluntarism

Editors’ Note: HistPhil co-editor Benjamin Soskis reflects on two Congressional hearings held this summer scrutinizing federal funding of nonprofits and on the ways they helped to delineate r…

histphil.org

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 13d

This is very bad.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...

Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Soskis

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 17d

Coming to a US near you soon.

Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 @marikamikiashvili.bsky.social · 17d

JUST IN: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has begun repressive proceedings against 30 more NGOs in Georgia, including an animal shelter.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 21d

In one sense, Searchlight is the institutional embodiment of the "Groups" critique that Jentleson has championed. But it's the popularist variety of critique & not the more powerful Skocpolian one, since it seems to rely on a funding model dependent on big donors.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...

A New Democratic Think Tank Wants to Curb the Influence of Liberal Groups

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 23d

"They praised Mr. Kirk’s commitment to free speech while threatening to exact a price against the “far left” that they accused of fomenting political violence in America."

A crack down on civil society & associational rights under the banner of free speech...

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 25d

The bar is pretty low for what constitutes an act of political bravery from conservatives now in defending civil society, but still, good to see.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 26d

Mr. Twitter Philanthropy, no less.

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Reposted by Benjamin Soskis

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 28d

Here we go. Trump just made it unmistakably clear that it will now be absolutely open season on whoever they decide to label "the left," and that this will be pursued with the full force of the government. This could get very, very bad.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 28d

@mattyglesias.bsky.social flagged this exchange elsewhere and he's exactly right. The attack on Kirk was obscene. Full stop. There's also a good chance that it will be used as pretext for a massive crackdown on progressive nonprofits and philanthropy.

Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · 28d

This seems like a case that could have some definite implications for philanthropy and the politics of naming rights, abt the 1st Amend rights of students at schools that have been turned into "mobile billboards" for messages they do not endorse.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Confederate school name violates Virginia students' First Amendment rights, judge rules

The judge said naming the high school after Stonewall Jackson turned students into “mobile billboards” for a message they may not support.

www.nbcnews.com

Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 8

New HistPhil post: Nancy Um & Matthew Westerby introduce findings from Scholars Data Project, hosted by the Association of Research Institutes in Art History, on residential fellowships sponsored by 4 leading research institutions in art history over last six decades.
histphil.org/2025/09/08/t...

Taking the Long View: Gauging the Impact of Residential Fellowships in Art History over the Decades

Editors’ Note: Nancy Um and Matthew Westerby introduce findings from the Scholars Data Project, hosted by the Association of Research Institutes in Art History, on residential fellowships spo…

histphil.org

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 7

What?

Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 7

I do agree on the red lines.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 7

the idea that EK is encouraging or legitimizing Trump by promoting Abundance, given his outspokenness to that peril, just isn't convincing. Can just as easily spin it other way--it's notable some on the Right are now willing to associate w/ Klein, given his prominence as Trump critique.

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 7

I don't think this is particular persuasive. I don't see a contradiction in thinking this is a moment of authoritarian peril and trying to work w/ a broad coalition on some program you think can mobilize voters away from the enticements of authoritarianism. You can disagree w/ that prognosis, but...

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Sep 7

What ties are you referring to Mark?

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Reposted by Benjamin Soskis

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 7

FOX: Are these protesters actually being financed from the outside, and is that something Homeland is looking at -- the financing of how these so-called organic protests are happening?

HOMAN: Absolutely ... they will be prosecuted too

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Aug 29

This will be one of the more significant books on the history of philanthropy in quite a while! I’ve read parts of it. It’s a phenomenal read—and more timely than ever.

John Fabian Witt @johnfabianwitt.bsky.social · Aug 29

Countdown to pub date Number 46: Clarence Darrow (at far right), trial lawyer in the Garland Fund’’s big summer 1925 trials: Scopes in Tennessee and Ossian Sweet in Detroit; Ossian’s brother and co-defendant Henry at left. #TheRadicalFund

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Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Aug 27

“We see this as a Free Exercise issue under our First Amendment rights,” said Peter Gudaitis, the exec director of New York Disaster Interfaith Services. “...[T]he federal government has never attempted to tell the nonprofit sector who we can and cannot serve."
www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...

DHS moves to bar aid groups from serving undocumented immigrants

Disaster-aid groups said the new contracts would make it harder for nonprofits to help the most vulnerable Americans in the aftermath of a disaster.

www.washingtonpost.com

Benjamin Soskis @bensoskis.bsky.social · Aug 27

We've maybe inured to attacks on Soros & conspiratorialism that undergirds them but important to insist this isn't ok. Those on right who stepped forward to defend interests of Harvard against Trump's attack need to do same here, in defense of civil society.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump calls for racketeering charges against top Democratic donor, son

The president accused George and Alex Soros of supporting “Violent Protests,” an accusation their organization called “outrageous and false.”

www.washingtonpost.com