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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 4d

"It’s not the journalists’ burden to keep the government’s secrets for it," @seth-stern.bsky.social told @columjournreview.bsky.social. "That is the opposite of the press’s job, which is to tell the public what the government doesn’t want the public told."

The Pentagon press gears up for a fight.

“None of us are signing this pledge,” said one reporter.

www.cjr.org

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 6d

Yes to all of this! Stand Together for Higher Ed is building a resistance strategy. Faculty and staff across US higher education: please join! It's free and we must all stand together. www.standtogetherhighered.org

Colette Delawalla @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 6d

Pressure to reject the compact should come from all sides:

Alumni, students, current employees, AND anyone who engages with people or work from the institution, high school students looking to attend, etc.

We say NO.

@standupforscience.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 6d

Please join Stand Together for Higher Ed if you are faculty or staff at these institutions--or any other higher ed institution in the US. We are building a campaign to resist. Joining is free. www.standtogetherhighered.org

Liz Neeley @lizneeley.bsky.social · 7d

Some problems have simple solutions. This new “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is one. The answer is simply saying no.

Simple does not mean easy. But Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, Univ of AZ, UPenn, USC, UT Austin & UVA must understand what they’ll lose if they sign on.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 6d

We are organizing to resist The Compact. Faculty and staff at all US higher ed institutions: stand with us. It's free. www.standtogetherhighered.org #academicsky #highered www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference

www.nytimes.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 8d

Are you frustrated that the NYT isn't covering the actions of this Trump administration as authoritarian consolidation? Consider reading my Substack posts on the subject. The NYT needs to cover democratic erosion plainly and clearly. kathyrobertsforde.substack.com/p/more-on-wh...

More on Why the New York Times Should Create a Democracy Desk.

The consolidation of authoritarian power in the United States is the biggest political story of our era. When will the New York Times approach it that way?

kathyrobertsforde.substack.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 12d

Mandami Momentum! @perrybaconjr.bsky.social Perry Bacon's political analysis of Mandami's campaign (and coalition-building skills!) is super smart. @newrepublic.com

Zohran Mamdani Is Threading One of the Trickiest Needles in Politics newrepublic.com/article/2009... via @newrepublic.com

Zohran Mamdani Is Threading One of the Trickiest Needles in Politics

For the general election, Mamdani has managed to expand his base while staying basically true to his primary-season beliefs. There’s a lesson in there for all Democrats.

newrepublic.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 17d

"Why Doesn’t the New York Times Have a Democracy Desk?"
MAGA is consolidating authoritarian power in the US. Democratic backsliding is happening fast. Why won't the NYT cover this breakdown of US democracy with the clarity it deserves? kathyrobertsforde.substack.com/p/why-doesnt...

Why Doesn’t the New York Times Have a Democracy Desk?

The warning lights are flashing. The paper of record has the reach and resources. Will it help readers track, and have the language to discuss, the rise of authoritarianism in the US?

kathyrobertsforde.substack.com

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

markpachucki @markpachucki.bsky.social · 26d

“Some faculty, student and alumni groups, however, have begun to stand up and make their voices heard.” Yes we have. Stand with us; we commit to educating for freedom. Thank you, Michael S. Roth. @standhighered.bsky.social

Inside Higher Ed @insidehighered.com · 26d

Opinion | Education as Freedom

As a new academic year begins, Michael S. Roth writes that colleges must redouble their commitment to educating for freedom—including freedom from governmental intrusion. https://bit.ly/4mfneiG

#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd

A drawing of a woman standing with a telescope on top of a stack of books in the mountainous outdoors, suggesting education as a path to freedom.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 18d

Wouldn't it be great if the New York Times created a Democracy Desk to cover so much of what's happening as what it clearly is: the rise of an authoritarian regime and the rapid erosion of democracy? Would love to get your thoughts on my Substack on the subject open.substack.com/pub/kathyrob...

Why Doesn’t the New York Times Have a Democracy Desk?

The warning lights are flashing. The paper of record has the reach and resources. Will it help readers track, and have the language to discuss, the rise of authoritarianism in the US?

open.substack.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 19d

Stand Together for Higher Ed stands with Emory AAUP. If you’re faculty at Emory, please join. AAUP is fighting for higher ed. We are not powerless!!! Please consider joining standtogetherhighered.org (staff welcome, too!). Free and we don’t share names or teams publicly.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 19d

Stand Together for Higher Ed stands with UT Austin AAUP President Pauline’s defense of free inquiry and against state repression of institutional autonomy, free speech, and freedom to learn. If you are #highered faculty or staff, join our movement: standtogetherhighered.org

AAUP @aaup.org · 19d

"Enough is enough. Texas must allow faculty and college students to explore freely the breadth of human knowledge, and administrators must support us in that time-honored quest."

– Pauline Strong, President @utaustinaaup.bsky.social

#AcademicFreedom
#AcademicSky
@texasaaup.bsky.social

Manufactured outrage is killing academic freedom in Texas | Opinion

Enough with the "gotcha" attacks like the recent firing of a Texas A&M instructor. Let professors teach. Let students learn, writes Pauline Turner Strong.

www.statesman.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 19d

THIS is what it looks like to report clearly on democratic erosion in the US. As always, @perrybaconjr.bsky.social is on it. So glad he’s now @newrepublic.com where his political reporting skills and sensibilities have wider latitude.

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 21d

newrepublic.com/article/2006...

The Jimmy Kimmel Suspension: A Huge Step Down the Authoritarian Road

If you make jokes the leader doesn’t like, look out. Does that sound like America? We are in a new place.

newrepublic.com

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 19d

Page One of today's NYT:

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 20d

"What's happening now is what happened in Hungary and Turkey, which is using regulatory threats and lawsuits as a way to capture the media,
and to capture the information ecosystem. We should be all very, very concerned," says @krforde.bsky.social. newrepublic.substack.com/p/kimmels-su...

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 20d

"Ownership matters. When you've got Paramount that has all these other business interests, they have made deals to protect their other interests. Same thing with Bezos. Same thing with the Walt Disney Company. I'm hoping the New York Times is going to hold the line," says @krforde.bsky.social.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 20d

@perrybaconjr.bsky.social always asks such great questions. His writing is great, too—smart & incisive &pro-democracy all the way. Read him @newrepublic.com

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 20d

"What's happening now is what happened in Hungary and Turkey, which is using regulatory threats and lawsuits as a way to capture the media,
and to capture the information ecosystem. We should be all very, very concerned," says @krforde.bsky.social. newrepublic.substack.com/p/kimmels-su...

Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 20d

open.substack.com/live-stream/...

LIVE SOON: Perry and Kathy Roberts Ford discuss Kimmel’s Suspension and Trump’s War on The Media

Starting Sep 18 at 10:00 AM EDT

open.substack.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 21d

Join us at Stand Together for Higher Ed, if you're faculty or staff at an HSI or any US college or university. We are building the defense, for HSIs and other institutions, too. Membership free. And we don't publicly share names. standtogetherhighered.org www.chronicle.com/article/hisp...

Opinion | Hispanic-Serving Institutions Must Be Defended

These colleges matter more than ever.

www.chronicle.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 28d

Our senior adviser to Stand Together for Higher Ed, and the former chancellor at UMass Amherst, on the fundamental importance of academic freedom. Kumble ("Swamy") Subbaswamy is an inspiration. Please read and share. www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e... #academicsky #highered

www.kentucky.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 28d

The leaders of the Rutgers MADC and broader MADC movement: how to defend higher ed! resistingproject2025.substack.com/p/defending-...

Defending Higher Ed: The Fight Back

An interview with Rutgers professors David Salas de la Cruz and Paul Boxer on campus resistance. By Sally O’Driscoll.

resistingproject2025.substack.com

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

markpachucki @markpachucki.bsky.social · 29d

@lastweektonight.com“if this administration’s actions have taught us one thing so far, it’s that no capitulation will be enough...I’d argue that to the extent they can, these institutions need to stop yielding, stand firm, and fight back.” Stand with [email protected] tinyurl.com/49vjwkde

Trump vs. Higher Education: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 29d

While Trump and the right-wing attack higher ed as "woke" and "ideological," guess where the conservative legal movement that has stacked the US Supreme Court with anti-democracy justices has received HUGE support? Ivy League law schools.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver @lastweektonight.com · Sep 8

This week’s main story is about Donald Trump’s grudge against higher education, what we stand to lose if he continues to withhold federal funding from universities, and which unexpected celebrity may hold the key to eternal youth. And yes, we have compelling evidence on that last point. You’ll see.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 29d

Watch, laugh, and then join us at Stand Together for Higher Ed if you're faculty or staff. If you're not and want to support us, please repost and then call your legislators to demand their support for research, science, free inquiry, and students. ❤️www.standtogetherhighered.org

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver @lastweektonight.com · Sep 8

This week’s main story is about Donald Trump’s grudge against higher education, what we stand to lose if he continues to withhold federal funding from universities, and which unexpected celebrity may hold the key to eternal youth. And yes, we have compelling evidence on that last point. You’ll see.

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · Sep 9

Just in case you care about the defunding of public media in the US. kathyrobertsforde.substack.com/p/dont-let-p...

Don't Let Public Media Die a Quiet Death

NPR and PBS may scrape by, but local stations will vanish. Defending them is defending democracy itself.

kathyrobertsforde.substack.com

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · Sep 9

Harvard AAUP (& the AAUP) won a HUGE victory against the Trump administration that will make it hard for the Harvard Corp and President to cut a deal. Everyone in higher education owes a debt of gratitude. Their efforts & courage protect us all. ❤️ www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

Opinion | The Harvard Lawsuit You Haven’t Heard Of

The university keeps winning in court. That matters.

www.chronicle.com

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