Great fun to catch up with Kingsley Moghalu, one of Africa's great economists, yesterday in my department. We revisited his contribution to my Oxford Handbook of #Nigeria Politics, and discussed the state of liberalism, causes of inequality, and supply chain vulnerabilities.

First he fired a U.S. Attorney for refusing to prosecute his political opponents. Then he installed a political aide and ordered them to come up with trumped-up criminal charges. It's corruption & an abuse of power by the President. abcnews.go.com/US/former-fb...

This should help Americans understand why Trump fired so many data scientists, from the NOAA and the CDC to the BLS: the data needs to "fit" the desired narrative. "Overstatement of GDP growth in autocracies and the recent decline in global inequality" url: academic.oup.com/sf/article/1...

Don't miss out on this event happening tomorrow- see you there! 🌏📚 Light refreshments will be served at 5 pm, and the lecture will begin at 5:30 pm.

In case you missed this robust defense of free speech following a brutal government crackdown on...jokes...check out #JimmyKimmel. Reminds me of Ebenezer Obadare's essay on "infrapolitics" and the power of humor, feared by weak leaders in @africanaffairs.bsky.social youtube.com/shorts/dtGDv...

Extra credit on last week's test: "In 1987 Mikhail Gorbachev wrote a book about reforming the USSR which became an unexpected best seller in the US. What was the title?" I like the question because it was one of the first books on politics I read, after Barry Rubin's "Paved with Good Intentions"

Today is the Mic Drop Summit at Climate Week NYC. I'll be talking mid-day about how we can all work together to fight the growing polycrisis. If you haven't gotten into the event (or are not local), you can watch it here: sine-network.zoom.us/j/89846571811 #ClimateWeekNYC

HOW AMERICA'S RETREAT FROM #HUMANRIGHTS ENABLES #DEMOCRATICEROSION - Join our discussion on Oct 3 in DC at @pge-sis.bsky.social @americanuniversity.bsky.social with @freedomhouse.bsky.social @humanrightswatch.bsky.social and former staff from State Dept+Congress www.eventbrite.com/e/how-americ...

HOW AMERICA'S RETREAT FROM #HUMANRIGHTS ENABLES #DEMOCRATICEROSION - Join our discussion on Oct 3 in DC at @pge-sis.bsky.social @americanuniversity.bsky.social with @freedomhouse.bsky.social @humanrightswatch.bsky.social and former staff from State Dept+Congress www.eventbrite.com/e/how-americ...

During his inauguration speech, Trump said he would "immediately stop all government censorship and bring free speech back to America. Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents." Another promise broken.

I just want to make sure I understand this. Democrats are introducing legislation to uphold free speech because the power of the First Amendment, and two centuries of court cases upholding it, are in doubt. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.

This is every morning in Washington, DC, and coming to your town next. Unmarked cars, guys with guns and masks refusing to identify themselves. @dcmigrantmutualaid.org @freedcproject.bsky.social #FreeDC #Democracy

Because...Article One

Statement on Charlie Kirk from @ips-dc.org "...we refuse to let our communities be torn apart. All of us at IPS unequivocally condemn political violence and assassinations — and we also condemn using it as a pretext to target vulnerable communities, our allies, or our progressive community."

If they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear… 📌 California lawmakers just passed SB 627, the “No Secret Police Act,” which would make it illegal for law enforcement to hide their identities while on duty in the state.

A call from former Sen. John Danforth (R): "Those who believe we are a compassionate nation that feeds the hungry must make ourselves heard. We must speak out in public forums. We must write to our congressional representatives. And we must vote — to restore that America."

On a day when 3,000 people died in a horrific terrorist attack 24 years ago due to a massive intell failure, let us both remember the victims and remind Tulsi Gabbard of all the things she is not doing to advance evidence based policy, identify + de-escalate global threats, and protect America. 9/11

This is a lawless administration. People in DC can see that better than anyone. They are violating our Constitutional rights, stealing from the American people, and illegally deploying the military on domestic soil. Any committee tasked with ‘Government Reform’ which ignores this is a farce.

Nat Guard documents show public ‘fear,’ troops’ ‘shame’ over D.C. presence. “it does raise existential questions for the health of the National Guard, for how America views its National Guard and how America uses the military writ large.” #FreeDC #WeAreAllDC www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Looking forward to seeing who rises to the top this year! The award ceremony is always such a great capstone to the year.

Currently job hunting? Don’t miss this essential checklist put together by PGE Professor Krista Tuomi! Whether you're updating your resume or prepping for interviews, this guide has you covered: www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/new...

Here's one of my favorite pictures from this great gathering! Very exciting to meet the new students, ready to dive deep and prepare for the many global challenges ahead. And great fun to play the song "Teacher don't teach me no nonsense." SIS is no nonsense! :)

This semester we are welcoming Tereza Varejkova as a new faculty member. Check her recent faculty profile here: www.american.edu/sis/news/202...

@dcmigrantmutualaid.org - very big ICE presence now in Carter Baron area off 16th Street NW

#FreeDC #WeAreAllDC Student walkout in full effect at American University

Sotomayor blasts Kavanaugh for suggesting immigrants just carry appropriate documents. "Countless people in the Los Angeles area have been grabbed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed simply because of their looks, their accents, and the fact they make a living by doing manual labor."

You are right! I learned about the fruit of the poison tree doctrine in high school. I think there were a lot of classes that Trump skipped.

#WeAreAllDC #FreeDC

Dept of Homeland Security helicopter circling Petworth and Mt Pleasant. Chasing down 🥪 sandwich throwers 🥪 @dcmigrantmutualaid.org

We are All DC March today to #FreeDC @freedcproject.bsky.social

Self-governance. Due process. #HumanRights. Protection against arbitrary search and seizure. #Democracy and decency. No taxation without representation. Demands of #FreeDC are lessons for other cities in Trump's sites.

This is what #Democracy looks like -- an outpouring of unity against occupation and harassment of our teachers, our neighbors, our friends. #FreeDC @freedcproject.bsky.social @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social

UCLA faculty response to fed suspension of $584m in grants: such attempts have been found unlawful, yet administrators have "preemptively complied with demands" and such "anticipatory obedience" has not deterred further attacks. Demand? Challenge Trump in court sites.google.com/view/ucstand...

Mourning the passing of Bill Zartman, a giant of African studies and conflict resolution studies hub.jhu.edu/2025/08/12/b...

ICE took away staff at a child care center in my neighborhood yesterday. DC is one of three most $$ cities for child care, in a country where the shortage of workers means the average family spends 22% of household income on this. Silver lining? The families raised $16k in 24 hours for a lawyer

Mourning the passing of Bill Zartman, a giant of African studies and conflict resolution studies hub.jhu.edu/2025/08/12/b...

Powerful testimony yesterday at House Judiciary Cmte hearing w/ @raskin.house.gov on #censorship. Prof. David Kaye highlighted: firing CDC staff and deleting data; banning mainstream media from White House, using the FCC to pressure YouTube on content, etc. bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com/sites.uci.ed...

"The lunatics are running the asylum."

MORE: Sparkle Sooknanan is still awake -- and she wants a fourth status report from DOJ. The judge orders the government to update her when all putative class members have been returned to ORR custody.

Trump’s EPA is continuing its illegal retaliation against employees for telling the truth in defense of our planet and the nation. We stand with these brave employees in their fight against this retaliation. #zeldin #epa #declarationofdissent

@dcmigrantmutualaid.org our school parent network reporting heavy ICE presence in Mount Pleasant near Lamont. Someone just taken. Does anyone have pictures or information to confirm?

Normally first week of school is new backpacks and sneakers. Here in DC it's parents organizing to protect teachers, students and staff. It is insane that the federal government is trying to prevent kids from getting an education instead of facilitating it. @freedcproject.bsky.social #FreeDC