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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Anna Schapiro @annaschapiro.bsky.social · 12h

Proud of the Penn faculty!!!

www.inquirer.com/education/up...

Penn faculty senate overwhelmingly votes to urge university leaders to reject Trump compact

The compact "demands that American universities surrender their institutional autonomy and place themselves under the control of the U.S. Federal Government," the faculty senate wrote.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Anna Schapiro @annaschapiro.bsky.social · 6d

MIT!!!!! YES!!!!!!! www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...

MIT Rejects Proposed Federal Compact

MIT is the first institution to reject a proposal by the Trump administration that would trade preferential treatment on federal funding in exchange for far-reaching changes.

www.insidehighered.com

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 6d

Thoughts and prayers for Donald J Trump

Reuters @reuters.com · 6d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 7d

The federal govt is trying to take over US universities. This is called “authoritarian consolidation.” We CANNOT let it happen. Sign this @aaup.org petition. Say no to loyalty oaths. www.defendingourcampuses.org

Defending Our Campuses and Communities

The AFT and the AAUP are working with allies in higher education and the labor movement to defend and advance higher education that is accessible and affordable for all who want it, and to protect the...

www.defendingourcampuses.org

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 7d

Please repost: Sign this petition against university loyalty oaths. Then if you are faculty/staff at a US university, join Stand Together for Higher Ed (it's free!) at www.standtogehterhighered.org. We are doing great things together to defend and renew higher ed. www.defendingourcampuses.org

Defending Our Campuses and Communities

The AFT and the AAUP are working with allies in higher education and the labor movement to defend and advance higher education that is accessible and affordable for all who want it, and to protect the...

www.defendingourcampuses.org

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 7d

And then, if you are faculty or staff at a US college or university, please join our movement to defend and renew higher education. It's free, and we're doing great things. www.standtogetherhighered.org We need you, and we think you need us! Let's Stand Together

Stand Together

www.standtogetherhighered.org

Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 7d

PLEASE REPOST: An alumni petition you can sign whether you attended one of the 9 universities asked to sign a Trump admin loyalty oath. We are in dangerous times. And we must resist. Please sign and share widely.

STAND WITH YOUR SCHOOL: Trump attacks 9 universities. Sign the alumni petition now.

Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools the federal government just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freed...

alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org

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Kathy Roberts Forde @krforde.bsky.social · 7d

Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools the federal government just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freedom across America. alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org/petitions/tr...

STAND WITH YOUR SCHOOL: Trump attacks 9 universities. Sign the alumni petition now.

Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools the federal government just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freed...

alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org

Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 11d

"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 · 14d

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 · 14d

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 · 14d

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 · 14d

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 · 14d

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 · 16d

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 · 20d

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 · 25d

"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 · Sep 12

“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 · Sep 12

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 · 26d

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 · 27d

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 · 27d

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 · 27d

"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 · 27d

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 · 28d

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 · 27d

Page One of today's NYT:

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Reposted by Kathy Roberts Forde

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 28d

"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 · 28d

"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 · 28d

@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 · 28d

"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 · 28d

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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