Roberto Weber
@robertoweber.bsky.social
220 followers 130 following 41 posts
Part-time economist; full-time consumer of news, pop culture, politics, movies, music, sports, and an occasional book; horrified by what is going on in the U.S.
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Reposted by Roberto Weber
kairyssdal.bsky.social
This is the whole ball game, gang.
annabower.bsky.social
NEW: Trump administration asks SCOTUS to intervene in the Lisa Cook case
In the Supreme Court of the United States
No. 25A
DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, APPLICANT v.
LISA D. COOK, ET AL.
APPLICATION TO STAY THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND REQUEST FOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAY
Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Rules of this Court and the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C.
1651, the Solicitor General-on behalf of applicant Donald J. Trump, President of the United States-respectfully requests that this Court stay the preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (App., infra, 23a) pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and any further proceedings in this Court. The Solicitor General also respectfully requests an immediate administrative stay of the preliminary injunction.
This application involves yet another case of improper judicial interference
with the President's removal authority-here, interference with the President's au-
thority to remove members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for cause.
The Federal Reserve Act, ch. 6, 38 Stat. 251, broadly authorizes the President
to dismiss members of the Board of Governors "for cause," without further restricting
permissible types of cause. 12 U.S.C. 242. In August 2025, the President determined that cause existed to remove respondent Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board.
(1)
robertoweber.bsky.social
Maybe a good start is to have serious discussions about what one can do... I honestly don't know the answer. In normal circumstances, mobilizing to effect change via elections would be the most productive way. But I worry that the US is dangerously close to not being that kind of country anymore.
robertoweber.bsky.social
But unless you are "full MAGA," and willing to live in subservience to Trump and his cronies, ignore science and reality, and support the targeting of marginalized groups, then they will eventually find an excuse to come after you as well.
robertoweber.bsky.social
What scares me most is how many people and institutions seem to believe that if they keep their heads down and go along for now, they will be ok.
robertoweber.bsky.social
Anyone living in the US should be horrified by the administration's use of government power & threats to target people whose opinions they don't like. They may be going after comedians for now, but if you think you are safe in your academic, corporate, or journalistic job, you are fooling yourself.
karaswisher.bsky.social
I am actually sad to have to say this since I have admired much about Disney CEO Bob Iger over the years, but what a profoundly quisling move this is by someone who knows better. It’s shameful and he has tarnished his once proud reputation.
Reposted by Roberto Weber
econfeld.bsky.social
Wellington Replication Games — Dec 4, 2025
One-day team challenge to reproduce top social-science studies; co-authorship on a meta-paper; virtual welcome. Researchers, postdocs, PhDs — sign up: www.surveymonkey.ca/r/RB6K73Q
#OpenScience #Metascience @i4replication.bsky.social
Victoria University of Wellington Replication Games
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.ca
Reposted by Roberto Weber
crampell.bsky.social
These are exactly the kinds of students we should be hoovering up and then convincing to stay and work/found their companies here.
Even Trump has said so. But this is what happens when you outsource your immigration policy to Stephen Miller, who hates immigrants more than he loves America.
Innovation Lightbulb: Not Just Attracting But Retaining International STEM Students
While the United States remains the top destination for international students, a factor that has historically helped the country maintain a competitive edge, this advantage is increasingly at risk if...
www.csis.org
robertoweber.bsky.social
A brave and powerful statement. More people need to speak up about what they are seeing, rather than keeping their heads down and hoping that the administration's ill-informed and spiteful destruction of American institutions will somehow stop when confronted only with silence.
donmoyn.bsky.social
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC.  

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business.   I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people.  This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.   The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership.  This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors.  Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC.  The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense.  Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function.  Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.
Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.  Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again.  I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season.  Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.”  We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary.  I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us.  Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources.  At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him.  To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer.  I believe in nutrition and exercise.  I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability.  Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning.  My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so.  I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud.   I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur.  I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics.  I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution.  If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
robertoweber.bsky.social
How much does it cost to train National Guard members . . .? That's "government efficiency" at work.
onestpress.onestnetwork.com
National Guard is now tasked with picking up garbage in DC
robertoweber.bsky.social
It's pretty simple: dark skin/hair & foreign-sounding name = "gang-banger" & "terrorist"
craigbrittain.com
Trump and Pam Bondi are now publicly defaming Kilmar Abrego Garcia again. What a sick administration.
robertoweber.bsky.social
Of course. The Federal Government will next take a 10,000-percent stake in the Trump Organization . . .
kairyssdal.bsky.social
Oh. And hmmm. And wut?
atrupar.com
CNBC: So we should expect the US government to be taking more equity stakes in businesses around the country?

KEVIN HASSETT: It's possible, yeah. That's absolutely right.
Reposted by Roberto Weber
nytimes.com
Breaking News: The FBI searched the Maryland home of John Bolton, the former national security adviser and a critic of President Trump, an official said.

Follow live updates.
Trump Administration Live Updates: F.B.I. Searches John Bolton’s Maryland Home
nyti.ms
robertoweber.bsky.social
The U.S. government is greatly expanding a militarized force to persecute immigrants and building prisons in which to detain them. But what happens once they have deported all the "illegals"? Do they just fire all the new ICE officers and close the new prisons? If not, who do they go after next?
darrigomelanie.bsky.social
The two for-profit prison companies who donated over $4 million to Trump are receiving another $1 billion in contracts to expand his concentration camps.

Trump’s abuses will never slow down or end because they are profit drivers for the companies bribing him for ICE contracts.
Reposted by Roberto Weber
ubscenter.uzh.ch
Former UBS Center Scholarship holder @mightydea.bsky.social successfully defended her PhD Thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Deambrosi 👏🏼

Maite will join @weareceu.bsky.social in Vienna as a Postdoctoral Associate.

#EconomicsForSociety #UZH #shareUBS
@econ.uzh.ch
robertoweber.bsky.social
Wow . . . At what point do we not even need to see the Epstein files to have a good idea of Trump's involvement?
robertoweber.bsky.social
Congratulations, Maite!
robertoweber.bsky.social
Congratulations, Jeffrey!
econ.uzh.ch
🎉 Congratulations to @jyusof.bsky.social who has successfully defended his PhD Thesis: «Understanding Inequality and Redistribution: The Role of Perceptions and Preferences»!

🇩🇪 He will pursue a position as an assistant professor at the @unistuttgart.bsky.social
robertoweber.bsky.social
Congratulations to Simona, a great researcher doing excellent work!
econ.uzh.ch
Congratulations to Simona Sartor who has successfully defended her PhD Thesis:
"What's Luck got to do with it? Essays on Inequality and Redistribution"
🇩🇪 She will join @humboldtuni.bsky.social for a Postdoc.
robertoweber.bsky.social
Congrats, Lorenzo!
econ.uzh.ch
Congratulations to lorenzopesaresi.bsky.social who has successfully defended his PhD Thesis: "Macroeconomic Implications of Firm Behavior in Frictional Markets".

🇮🇹 He will join the Structural Economic Analysis Directorate at the Bank of Italy as a Research Fellow.
robertoweber.bsky.social
Congratulations, Guohui!
econ.uzh.ch
Congratulations to Guohui Jiang who has successfully defended his PhD Thesis: "Essays in Economic History and Political Economy".

🇩🇪 He will soon start a postdoctoral position at the University of Cologne.
robertoweber.bsky.social
That is *exactly* why people need to turn out and protest . . .
atrupar.com
Trump threatens to use “heavy force” against anyone who protests his military parade this weekend, and note that he makes no exception for peaceful protesters
robertoweber.bsky.social
MACO?
nytimes.com
Elon Musk said in a social media post early Wednesday that he regretted some of his posts and comments about President Trump last week, which had led the president to disparage Musk. Musk said on his X platform that some of his posts about Trump “went too far.”
Musk Expresses ‘Regret’ Over His Criticisms of Trump
President Trump and Elon Musk traded social media barbs last week. Mr. Trump has said that he has no interest in repairing the relationship with his former adviser.
trib.al
robertoweber.bsky.social
I think it is critical to get out and protest on June 14 (www.axios.com/2025/06/07/n...), as loudly and visibly as possible. That is the day Trump wants to be celebrated and to lord over "his" armed forces. Americans need to show that it is not that kind of country . . .
Reposted by Roberto Weber
andreassteinmayr.net
THREE full professorships in Data Science, Microeconomics & Behavioral Econ — great colleagues, excellent research conditions and a spectacular setting in the Alps.

Please share! 📈📉
zeileis.org
📢 Come work with us!

🏛️ Faculty of Economics & Statistics, UIBK @econstatuibk.bsky.social@uniinnsbruck.bsky.social

‼️ Three job openings for Full Professor positions

- Data Science

- Microeconomics

- Behavioral Economics

Please share! #datascience #economics

www.uibk.ac.at/de/info-beru...
Aktuelle Ausschreibungen – Universität Innsbruck
None
www.uibk.ac.at
robertoweber.bsky.social
I know it's just one graph and a single measure, but . . . wow . . .