Fred Dews
@freddews.bsky.social
Genealogy / family history | Master Gunner | He/Him
Reposted by Fred Dews
As a genealogist who deals with our immigration history on a constant basis, it confounds me how some can convince themselves that their immigrant ancestors were somehow different than today's. As if "came here to work 80 hours a week and have a better life for their children" no longer applies.
It really is fascinating for people to say "yes, we were immigrants but we believed in America, not like today's immigrants" - based on what? How do they think a 1930s or 1950s Fox News would have portrayed their families?
December 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
As a genealogist who deals with our immigration history on a constant basis, it confounds me how some can convince themselves that their immigrant ancestors were somehow different than today's. As if "came here to work 80 hours a week and have a better life for their children" no longer applies.
December 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I don't read a lot off SSRN's site, but this is too important to overlook. Find that Download button and spend some time with this argument.
I don't know, Aaron. I think we need to take this seriously. In fact, after surveying hundreds of years of history in the past few days, I've written an article assessing the originalist case here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I don't read a lot off SSRN's site, but this is too important to overlook. Find that Download button and spend some time with this argument.
Reposted by Fred Dews
The Louisiana Purchase didn’t do what you think it did, a short 🧵
(aka historians ruin everything)
We’ve all been wrong about what the US actually bought….
(aka historians ruin everything)
We’ve all been wrong about what the US actually bought….
December 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Louisiana Purchase didn’t do what you think it did, a short 🧵
(aka historians ruin everything)
We’ve all been wrong about what the US actually bought….
(aka historians ruin everything)
We’ve all been wrong about what the US actually bought….
If I for some reason lost, say, 14% of my income, I'd start panic-looking for a second job.
lol wut. dropping from 42 percent approval to 36 percent approval seems pretty significant. apnews.com/article/trum...
December 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
If I for some reason lost, say, 14% of my income, I'd start panic-looking for a second job.
Ahh, memories.
"Smug is the emotional tone of Mastermind. I want the buyer to feel judged by the box. Like the box is already disappointed in them. If you don’t want smug, don’t name the game Mastermind. This isn’t fucking checkers. This is a duel in a seminar room at Davos."
The Mastermind Box Cover: What the Hell Were They Thinking?
- - -INVICTA GAMES, LTD. Packaging Team — Official Minutes Project: Mastermind / New Cover Presentation MARTIN SMITH (Marketing Senior Vice Presi...
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Ahh, memories.
Birthright citizenship has been part of our country since 1776. The 14th Amendment just had to clarify that FACT with regard to African-Americans specifically.
Birthright citizenship has been part of our constitution for over 150 years. The Trump administration wants to change that. Here are the facts: bit.ly/44Tm6Mn
Birthright Citizenship Under the U.S. Constitution
The 14th Amendment has long been understood to grant American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
www.brennancenter.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Birthright citizenship has been part of our country since 1776. The 14th Amendment just had to clarify that FACT with regard to African-Americans specifically.
Reposted by Fred Dews
HOPE WALZ: “What world are we f*cking living in? I draw the line at Gus. You people are f*cking disgraceful.”
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
December 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
HOPE WALZ: “What world are we f*cking living in? I draw the line at Gus. You people are f*cking disgraceful.”
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
From a review found on Rotten Tomatoes (0% Tomatometer score).
"It's like watching blank celluloid and hoping a movie will magically appear. Warning: you may consider melon-balling your eyes out."
"It's like watching blank celluloid and hoping a movie will magically appear. Warning: you may consider melon-balling your eyes out."
Honestly FIFA doing this is singularly FIFA, like the time it paid for a shitty music about itself. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...
United Passions - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
From a review found on Rotten Tomatoes (0% Tomatometer score).
"It's like watching blank celluloid and hoping a movie will magically appear. Warning: you may consider melon-balling your eyes out."
"It's like watching blank celluloid and hoping a movie will magically appear. Warning: you may consider melon-balling your eyes out."
Reposted by Fred Dews
W @harvardash.bsky.social & @politicsprof.bsky.social, my team @brookings.edu is working on our next edition of the Democracy Playbook
It will be a driver’s manual for democracies globally on how to make U-turns
Hear more on The Current podcast 👇
www.brookings.edu/articles/ins...
It will be a driver’s manual for democracies globally on how to make U-turns
Hear more on The Current podcast 👇
www.brookings.edu/articles/ins...
Inside the next Democracy Playbook: Strategies for global democratic U-turns | Brookings
In this episode, ACDS chair Norm Eisen discusses the forthcoming fourth edition of the Democracy Playbook and the emerging research showing how democracies can reverse democratic backsliding. He expla...
www.brookings.edu
December 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
W @harvardash.bsky.social & @politicsprof.bsky.social, my team @brookings.edu is working on our next edition of the Democracy Playbook
It will be a driver’s manual for democracies globally on how to make U-turns
Hear more on The Current podcast 👇
www.brookings.edu/articles/ins...
It will be a driver’s manual for democracies globally on how to make U-turns
Hear more on The Current podcast 👇
www.brookings.edu/articles/ins...
A lot of people lack the ability, strength, resources, or safe position to speak truth to power ... but CEOs of America's largest corporations are not those people. Shameful.
Does anyone have that sharpie tool where we can name every one of the people smiling, nodding, or even standing silently as Trump unloads this racist attack?
Because I can see a future in which a lot of people will be saying, “I wasn’t there.”
Because I can see a future in which a lot of people will be saying, “I wasn’t there.”
Trump, continued: "What the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable. It’s not even believable. And a lot of it starts with the governor. A lot of it starts with Barack HUSSEIN Obama, because that’s when people started coming in... They want to kiss our country good night."
December 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
A lot of people lack the ability, strength, resources, or safe position to speak truth to power ... but CEOs of America's largest corporations are not those people. Shameful.
My (and your) late-19th century German immigrant ancestors kept "their culture" for a few generations--German speaking newspapers, churches, language, etc.--until WWI. Some built things, others just lived their lives. As all immigrants do. THAT'S American culture.
Rep. Kat Cammarck: "Today, one in six people in the US is foreign born. That quite frankly is not sustainable to maintain a culture that we are known for here in the United States."
December 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
My (and your) late-19th century German immigrant ancestors kept "their culture" for a few generations--German speaking newspapers, churches, language, etc.--until WWI. Some built things, others just lived their lives. As all immigrants do. THAT'S American culture.
Smashed that "smart features" tickbox off ASAP!
Nobody wants this shit. Nobody.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Smashed that "smart features" tickbox off ASAP!
Reposted by Fred Dews
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Good lort, there are like 30 from my year. I'll go with the band who gave the first show I ever attended.
November 17, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Good lort, there are like 30 from my year. I'll go with the band who gave the first show I ever attended.
Close the submissions. Photo of the year.
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Close the submissions. Photo of the year.
Reposted by Fred Dews
Enhanced ACA subsidies are set to expire at the beginning of next year—what does that mean for Americans, insurers, and health care providers? Matt Fiedler breaks it down on The Current. Listen at the link below or on your favorite podcast app.
Why are expiring ACA subsidies raising health insurance premiums?
With expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans set to expire at the end of 2025, Americans on ACA health plans are starting to see big increases in their monthly health insurance premiums for 2026 as insurers send out annual notices. To address w...
www.brookings.edu
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Enhanced ACA subsidies are set to expire at the beginning of next year—what does that mean for Americans, insurers, and health care providers? Matt Fiedler breaks it down on The Current. Listen at the link below or on your favorite podcast app.
Here's an episode of a podcast I produce.
On a new episode of Reimagine Rural, Tony Pipa explores how civic collaboration is driving economic transformation in a small town in Maine. Listen online here or on your favorite podcast app 🎧
Skowhegan, Maine, is making waves as it builds a vibrant future along the Kennebec River | Brookings
A former mill town once defined by economic decline, Skowhegan, Maine, is thriving again through creativity and collaboration. From a growing regional food hub and a major riverfront revitalization ef...
brook.gs
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Here's an episode of a podcast I produce.
Reposted by Fred Dews
New research from my colleagues @brookings.edu finds that mail voting fraud is extremely low
They also show that adopting universal vote-by-mail voting reduces racial & economic disparities
Read more👇 –TN
www.brookings.edu/articles/mai...
They also show that adopting universal vote-by-mail voting reduces racial & economic disparities
Read more👇 –TN
www.brookings.edu/articles/mai...
Mail voting fraud: Data points to low risk and high benefits for voters | Brookings
Analysis finds mail voting fraud in the U.S. is exceedingly rare and shows universal vote-by-mail boosts access, turnout, and cost efficiency.
www.brookings.edu
November 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
New research from my colleagues @brookings.edu finds that mail voting fraud is extremely low
They also show that adopting universal vote-by-mail voting reduces racial & economic disparities
Read more👇 –TN
www.brookings.edu/articles/mai...
They also show that adopting universal vote-by-mail voting reduces racial & economic disparities
Read more👇 –TN
www.brookings.edu/articles/mai...
Reposted by Fred Dews
SNAP update. Insane one. So USDA is now saying on a huge lag:
- issue partial payments using a bad-math formula;
- CLAW BACK full issuances that any state sent *properly* under last week's guidance;
- if you don't CLAW BACK benefits, we won't pay the federal share of SNAP administrative costs (??)
- issue partial payments using a bad-math formula;
- CLAW BACK full issuances that any state sent *properly* under last week's guidance;
- if you don't CLAW BACK benefits, we won't pay the federal share of SNAP administrative costs (??)
November 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
SNAP update. Insane one. So USDA is now saying on a huge lag:
- issue partial payments using a bad-math formula;
- CLAW BACK full issuances that any state sent *properly* under last week's guidance;
- if you don't CLAW BACK benefits, we won't pay the federal share of SNAP administrative costs (??)
- issue partial payments using a bad-math formula;
- CLAW BACK full issuances that any state sent *properly* under last week's guidance;
- if you don't CLAW BACK benefits, we won't pay the federal share of SNAP administrative costs (??)
Reposted by Fred Dews
"A tariff is a tax; by definition, a tariff is the tax paid by an importer for the right to import a product. When you tax something, you get less of it."
Tariffs are a particularly bad way to raise revenue | Brookings
In this explainer, Jay C. Shambaugh shows why tariffs are a particularly bad way to raise funds for the U.S. government.
brook.gs
November 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"A tariff is a tax; by definition, a tariff is the tax paid by an importer for the right to import a product. When you tax something, you get less of it."
Reposted by Fred Dews
Honestly, folks.
Today's electoral results are a referendum on fascism.
Take heart, peeps.
It's fuel to step up and keep going!
Today's electoral results are a referendum on fascism.
Take heart, peeps.
It's fuel to step up and keep going!
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Honestly, folks.
Today's electoral results are a referendum on fascism.
Take heart, peeps.
It's fuel to step up and keep going!
Today's electoral results are a referendum on fascism.
Take heart, peeps.
It's fuel to step up and keep going!