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Scott L. Althaus

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Scott Althaus is a professor of political science and of communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the… more

H-index: 29
Political science 37%
Communication & Media Studies 36%
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
That Memorial Day I decided to spend a few hours of internet searching to honor his memory by seeing what I could find out about his last mission.

And I found out more than I expected. But that's for the next post... (4/4)

by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
My family's journey started on Memorial Day 2013 when I remembered back when I was a boy visiting a family burial plot with a large stone with the image of a B-24 bomber engraved on it. I vaguely remembered that all our family ever knew was that he'd been shot down somewhere over New Guinea. (3/)
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
This month is Project Recover's "Mission Miles" fundraiser that aims to raise awareness of the more than 81,000 American families like mine who have a relative who is Missing In Action.

If you'd like to donate to this effort, please follow this link:

runsignup.com/heaven-can-w...

(2/)
Mission Miles 2025
What is Mission Miles 2025? * From September 1st to September 30th, walk, hike, run, ruck, or bike 100 miles in honor of America’s missing-in-action (MIA) service members who have yet to return hom...
runsignup.com
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Today is POW/MIA Remembrance Day in the US, a day set aside for remembering those who gave their lives for our country in wartime and are still Missing In Action.

As most of you know, I'm a volunteer for Project Recover, a nonprofit that finds and repatriates the remains of American MIAs. (1/)
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
His homecoming was made possible because of the work of Project Recover, a nonprofit devoted to finding and repatriating the remains of Americans missing in action from past wars. They found my relative's plane under more than 200 feet of water back in 2017.

www.projectrecover.org
Home
Project Recover is a collaborative effort to find and repatriate American MIAs for their recognition and closure for families and the Nation.
www.projectrecover.org

by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
This coming Friday 9/19 is national POW/MIA Recognition Day in the US. One of my relatives was MIA from WW2 until earlier this year: this past May I and other relatives buried the remains of 2Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. in Livermore CA 81 years after his death.

He is missing no longer. He is home.
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

claesdevreese.bsky.social
Important issue: when journalists’ visa are reduced in length it creates uncertainty, chilling effects, and ultimately worse reporting from within the US.

That might be the purpose. But it is hugely problematic.

wan-ifra.org/2025/09/dont...
Global news media call on U.S. to scrap new visa proposal
2025-09-11. Dozens of major news and journalist organisations worldwide are urging the U.S. government to drop a proposal that would drastically shorten the time foreign correspondents can live and wo...
wan-ifra.org
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by Jerry H. Ratcliffe — Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

jerryratcliffe.net
New Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent training to go from 18 weeks to 8 weeks, and dropping the degree requirement?
If the plan is to make the FBI a laughing stock, this is the way to do it.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/u...
F.B.I. Plans to Lower Recruiting Standards, Alarming Agents
www.nytimes.com
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Daniela V. Dimitrova

apsa.bsky.social
Donald Kinder Receives the 2025 Ithiel de Sola Pool Award

The Ithiel de Sola Pool Award and Lectureship is presented triennially by the American Political Science Association (APSA) to honor a scholar whose research explores a broad range of fields pursued by Ithiel de Sola Pool; including…
Donald Kinder Receives the 2025 Ithiel de Sola Pool Award
The Ithiel de Sola Pool Award and Lectureship is presented triennially by the American Political Science Association (APSA) to honor a scholar whose research explores a broad range of fields pursued by Ithiel de Sola Pool; including political theory, political behavior, political communication, science and technology policy, and international affairs.  Professor Donald Kinder will deliver the Pool Lecture on Friday, September 12th at 2pm PDT as part of the 
politicalsciencenow.com
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

daviddarmofal.bsky.social
More UChicago Ph.D. Programs Pause Admissions in Humanities, Social Sciences
More UChicago Ph.D. Programs Will Pause Admissions
The Arts and Humanities dean said “nearly all” faculty leaders preferred “a broader pause for the division.” Some social sciences programs also aren't accepting new students.
www.insidehighered.com
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

pressgazette.co.uk
Traffic for the world’s top-50 news websites swung sharply into the red in July, according to Press Gazette’s exclusive traffic ranking pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...
Top 50 English-language news sites in the world: All but four report traffic declines in July
Press Gazette lists the top 50 most popular news websites in the world. Monthly updated top 50 listing based on data provided by SimilarWeb.
pressgazette.co.uk
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Lisa W. Fazio, Axel Bruns , and 7 more

davekarpf.bsky.social
Next week I'll begin my fifteenth year as a political communication professor.

I wrote up some thoughts on what it's like trying to teach this subject while everything falls apart.

open.substack.com/pub/davekarp...
What it's like being a political communication professor right now
Misgivings, Grievances, and Thanks as I look ahead to my fifteenth year.
open.substack.com
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Illinois political science has two TT faculty searches open, one in US political institutions and the other in political behavior. Come join our faculty!

American Political Institutions: illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...

Political Behavior: illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant Professor- American Political Institution- Department of Political Science
Duties & Responsibilities
illinois.csod.com

Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

cline-center.bsky.social
Our latest release of SPOTLITE data offers for the first time a comprehensive picture of the demographic characteristics of civilians involved in police uses of lethal force on a national scale, including incidents without lethal outcomes.
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Katherine Ognyanova, Curtis R. Ryan , and 1 more

apsa.bsky.social
APSA Statement on Executive Action Impacts on Research Funding, Data Availability and Academic Freedom

The American Political Science Association (APSA) is deeply concerned about recent executive actions that have had troubling implications for research funding and academic freedom. In January,…
APSA Statement on Executive Action Impacts on Research Funding, Data Availability and Academic Freedom
The American Political Science Association (APSA) is deeply concerned about recent executive actions that have had troubling implications for research funding and academic freedom. In January, President Trump issued an executive order calling for the termination of federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This was followed by a memorandum to temporarily pause a wide range of federal grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance, to allow for a review of federal grants and awards and to enforce compliance with the executive order.
politicalsciencenow.com
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

jayrosen.bsky.social
Examine this chart from @niemanlab.org. It ranks the top 50 LOCAL news sites by number of monthly visits.

You'd expect LA Times to be high on the list. But The Post-Standard in Syracuse, NY? Let @joshuabenton.com explain. And see where your local newspaper falls.

www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/how-...
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

curdknupfer.bsky.social
So the UN Global Risks Report is out...
& it lists Mis- and Disinformation as the biggest risk we face.
unglobalriskreport.org

Listen... I'm a mis- and Disinformation kinda guy, meaning I worry about this professionally.
But there is no way this issue should be all the way up there!
Plus...
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Residents of every county in the United States can explore SPOTLITE incident records from their own communities to better understand local trends in police uses of lethal force.

clinecenter.illinois.edu/spotlite
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Big news from the @cline-center.bsky.social: police uses of lethal force in the US dropped 24% from 2021 to 2023, with 2023 having the smallest number of lethal force incidents involving police since 2015.

news.illinois.edu/research-pol...
Research: Police uses of lethal force dropped dramatically in US from 2021-23 – News Bureau
news.illinois.edu
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Daniel Kreiss, Kevin Coe

polcomm.bsky.social
We are happy to share the newest issue of the Political Communication Report! 🎉

This issue brings together six contributions on teaching political communication and also features interviews with recent award winners. 🧵

Read the full issue here: politicalcommunication.org/issue/summer...
Summer 2025 – Issue 31 “Teaching Political Communication” – PolComm
politicalcommunication.org
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Lisa W. Fazio

asc.upenn.edu
ICYMI: Annenberg alum @dannagal.bsky.social's powerful essay in @nytopinion.nytimes.com:

“Looking to magic and intuition for agency in a moment when science and medicine are frustrating is normal and human. But I worry that these normal human impulses are being exploited by powerful people."
Opinion | Holy Water Couldn’t Save My Husband. MAHA Wouldn’t Have, Either.
www.nytimes.com
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Christopher Barrie

columbiaup.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce that Benjamin Toff, Ruth Palmer, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen's AVOIDING THE NEW is the Winner of the 2025 Hazel Gaudet-Erskine Best Book Award from the International Journal of Press/Politics. buff.ly/KzI2QdM @polcomm.bsky.social #IJPP
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by Scott Gehlbach — Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Roger B. Myerson, Alexandra Cirone , and 2 more

sgehlbach.bsky.social
Are you:

✅ A young scholar in econ, poli sci, or law
✅ Working on institutions, broadly defined
✅ Interested in spending a week in Italy with amazing faculty

If so, please apply to this year’s Coase Institute Workshop! It’s a transformative experience for many, and always fun. I’ll be there.
Ronald Coase Institute: What's New
www.coase.org
17 25

by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
This Memorial Day, 81 years after the death and disappearance of my relative 2Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, I'll be gathering with family and friends to bury his remains. Grateful for all those who remembered the fallen in ways that brought us to this place of closure.

news.illinois.edu/because-amer...
Because America never forgot – News Bureau
news.illinois.edu
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Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

rebekahtromble.bsky.social
We also just launched Expert Voices Together (expertvoicestogether.org), a rapid response crisis support system for US-based researchers and journalists facing harassment due to their work. We’ll have an official roll out starting next week. But feel free to share with anyone who might be in need.
© 2025 Expert Voices Together
expertvoicestogether.org
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Policing is one of the most difficult jobs imaginable. It is taking a toll.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/m...
Why Do More Police Officers Die by Suicide Than in the Line of Duty?
www.nytimes.com
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
Here’s another:

www.news-gazette.com/opinion/gues...
My Turn | How federal funding helped UI undermine international terrorism
"As someone who once used federal funding to push back against global terrorism, the current rush to slash spending for university research makes me think of something else: the opportunities
www.news-gazette.com
2

Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus, Erika Franklin Fowler, Edward T. Walker

davidimiller.bsky.social
🚨 Practical URGENT tip for NSF grantees:

Out of an abundance of caution, I would right now go into Research.gov and…

1. Download your NSF award letters.

2. Print PDF your annual reports.

3. Screenshot the status table for annual reports.

NSF is planning maintenance tomorrow to Research.gov
Due to maintenance, Research.gov (including access to NSF-PAR, GRFP, PES, and ETAP) will be unavailable from Fri., 4/25 at 10:00 PM ET to Sat., 4/26 at 1:00 PM ET. NSF apologizes for any inconvenience.
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by Scott L. Althaus

salthaus.bsky.social
The “third person effect” rides again!

academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
The Third-Person Effect in Communication
Abstract. A person exposed to a persuasive communication in the mass media sees this as having a greater effect on others than on himself or herself. Each
academic.oup.com
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by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by: Scott L. Althaus

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Congrats to the new poli sci members of the American Academy! www.amacad.org/new-members-...
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