I want to organize a panel for ISA 2026 on the intersection of (international) politics and theology. Theological takes on political issues, theology as informing or shaping politics, etc. My paper will be on disenchantment, maybe (sub)titled "rescuing Weber from the Weberians." Anyone interested?

Hello academic friends and colleagues -- quick reminder that I am teaching an online philosophy of science course this summer. Yes, it's online, but features synchronous class sessions for actual discussion. Registration deadline is 13 May; here's more information: methodsnet.org/course/on-01...

This is now our reality.

Support excellent independent journalism! In the few weeks I’ve been a paid subscriber she’s already broken several important stories.

Best sign from Strongsville Ohio Hands Off protest 4/5/25

Amidst all the awfulness, it’s good to see two new books published on my Configurations series!

For the AM crowd: danieldrezner.substack.com/p/american-f...

Doonesbury gets it.

H/T @ericbeltmann.bsky.social CC: @abradschwartz.bsky.social

53 works of mine — three books and dozens of articles.

Letter signed by members of the Columbia History Department urging resistance to the Trump Administration's efforts to dictate university policy. "Should this control be realized, here or elsewhere, it would make any real historical scholarship, teaching, and intellectual community impossible."

I'm going to be teaching an online course this summer through MethodsNET, entitled "Knowing and the Known: Facts and Explanations in the Social Sciences." The synchronous portion runs 30 June - 4 July. Details and registration information here: methodsnet.org/course/on-01...

I had the pleasure of engaging with Sandra several times, including a particularly memorable dinner with her and Ann Tickner during which we discussed the boundaries and politics of “science.” She also virtually visited my class on more than one occasion. A brilliant thinker and a powerful voice.

I am ashamed to be an alumnus of Columbia University. Instead of fighting back, their leadership is bowing down.

It’s almost as though they want to eliminate any avenue for the development of substantive, valid knowledge about anything. Oh, wait. It is exactly that.

Good time to subscribe to @wired.com www.wired.com/story/ai-saf...

Hate to say it but this observation is almost certainly accurate.

My school’s media people asked me to say a few words about Dr. Seuss and politics in honor of his birthday yesterday. Happy to oblige.

On the left, “amethyst sweetbread” ube cookie (Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser recipe). On the right, same recipe except for 30g more flour. Although both are tasty, the one on the right is *much* closer to what we ate on board.

“It’s worse than you think because by the time the courts catch up the damage will already have been done. It’s worse than you think because the people running the government seem to have no higher mission than to watch it burn.”

Key points here from Dan

1. Background to the epochal change in German and European politics after the election. Merz, the presumed next Chancellor has said that Europe is setting out to "achieve its independence from the US, step by step." @abenewman.bsky.social and I explain the background in our book, Underground Empire

Pay attention to this. Replacing JAGs with loyalists enables whatever orders Trump and Hegseth issue to be interpreted as lawful.

DEI initiatives are still legal. Universities need to stand their ground. A Friday gift to your university's General Counsel Office - courtesy of an all star lineup of civil rights lawyers and scholars. You're going to want to read this.

the thing about the fuhrerprinzip in the era of Trump is that whatever he says is truth and the messianic mission of the United States to the GOP and the MAGA base

People have been saying "call it fascism" lately and I just feel the general public may not have a clear picture of what fascism IS. It's not a scare tactic to use the word; it's descriptive. www.openculture.com/2024/11/umbe...

The Washington Post refused to run this ad. Sure would be a shame if it went viral.

The activity coming from the Trump administration is consistent with a regime shift away from democracy and toward authoritarianism. It’s important to use this label so people begin to appreciate the gravity and consequences of what’s happening. 1/3 🧵

“In DOGE we see the logic of automation—of enterprise AI—being imposed by a nascent oligarchic state….This, in short, is why Elon Musk is trying to automate the federal government.”

This comment on r/fednews really stood out to me. Trump and Musk want people to think they're firing do-nothing "bureaucrats," but they're really getting rid of people dedicated to serving this country and keeping it operational. I hope these stories get told.

Fuck.

Trump is weaponizing financial payments: here's what you can do. www.programmablemutter.com/p/trump-is-w...

Among other things, this shows how the Trump/Musk/Project 2025 strategy is defined not by a single coherent core, but by a multifaceted opposition to the U.S. federal government with a special animus against the New Deal and the Great Society — and the achievements of the civil rights movements.

The arts takeover might seem like small potatoes compared to much of what this admin is up to, but it's all part of narrowing whose voices are centered, whose ideas are lifted up, and whose stories are told. This is a national tragedy in its own right.

Cathy Harris is suing Trump, Vought, Treasury, and others, "seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction and, on an emergency basis, a temporary restraining order to prevent the deprivation of her statutory entitlement to exercise the duties of her office." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Quick reminder to anyone who needs to hear it: laws, court decisions, executive orders, etc. are not magic spells. They are efforts to shape the conditions of legitimate action. Without anyone acting on them, they are mere words. This has at least three implications:

NEW: Former Palantir and Elon Musk Associates Are Taking Over Key Government IT Roles www.wired.com/story/elon-m...

Mind-boggling wreckage. Among the lifesaving programs now disrupted by Elon’s attack on @USAID: phase 1 trials for a possible HIV vaccine.

To understand the faction leading America, recognize they think the worst, most terrifying things to happen in recent years are: 1) George Floyd protests 2) Public health treating COVID as real 3) HR saying "we've received complaints about your, um, 'jokes'" 4) Press 1 for English 5) Pronouns in bio

Treasury Crisis is about more than just the Treasury. It could be used to weaponize the government and make the underlying federal information infrastructure into a political tool. New piece in @lawfare.bsky.social w/ @himself.bsky.social. Urgent action needed. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/elon...

A panel on the Treasury this Thursday, with the incredible @epopppp.bsky.social and @abenewman.bsky.social. This is not just for academics. Everyone needs to understand what's happening right now. Spread the word!

People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency. (Photos shared with me)

New from @dell.bsky.social: WIRED confirmed various automated efforts to remove pronouns from both email and Slack at USAID, the EPA, the GSA, and more.

Senator Andy Kim just said at JHU SAIS that he is shortly walking to a couple of blocks to US-AID and ask "what in God's name is happening." In his words, friends and allies are asking "If the White House is going to just dismiss part of the government, what are they going to do to us?" Applause.

Yes. More of this. Hold on other nominees as well including OMB until Elon is out.

More members are joining us from both chambers, we'll be there on the west side (14th St NW) at 1:00

Exactly. We have to do all the things and use all the channels.

FYI

There will be a protest on SUNDAY Feb. 2 at 3:00 p.m. outside the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) bldg., where Musk & his cyber-thugs have seized control of the government's computers. 1900 E Street NW (corner of E and 19th Sts.), Wash. DC. Spread the word to DC area folks!