Robert C. Richards

Robert Richards

@rrichard09.bsky.social

3K followers 8.5K following 530 posts

I study how people talk about politics and law and participate in governing their communities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone, not those of my employers or institutions.
https://rcrjr.wordpress.com

Videos

Political science 19%

Environmental science 17%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Robert C. Richards, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Hakeem Jefferson @hakeemjefferson.bsky.social · 2h

This beautifully written piece by my pal @adambonica.bsky.social is worth your time today.

A bit of light amid the darkness.

open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...

The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls

On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.

open.substack.com

Reposted by Carl Henrik Knutsen, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 3h

We have cleaned up the crime scene and blocked a local investigation and hidden the perpetrator and invaded the state and that is how you know that we are acting in good faith and that everything was the victim’s fault.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

Trump Administration Live Updates: Noem Says ‘Hundreds More’ Agents Will Be Sent to Minnesota Over ‘Corruption’

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Megan L. Ranney, Robert C. Richards

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 5h

A fire heavily damaged Mississippi’s largest synagogue — the same one the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights

A suspect has been arrested, authorities say

Predawn fire reduces parts of Mississippi's largest synagogue to charred ruins - Mississippi Today

A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil rights...

mississippitoday.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 7h

Bouie: MAGA's vision of the world is one of the US as the neighborhood rapist (and proud of it).

He connects the dots between between the MAGA view that "international law is gay" and the acceptance, if not celebration, of sexual assailants in MAGA & WH.

Related: Cynthia Miller-Idriss, "Man Up."

Reposted by Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 7h

As I mentioned yesterday, they’re trying to get around the limits which in Section 527 of the annual appropriations bill. That bill says it’s limited to funds “made available … by this act.”

What this memo says is we are going to deny access, but only using funds from OBBBA (so a different act).

SEC. 527. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Homeland Security by this Act may be used to prevent any of the following persons from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens, or to make any temporary modification at any such facility that in any way alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress or such designated employee, compared to what would be observed in the absence of such modification:
(1) A Member of Congress.
(2) An employee of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate designated by such a Member for the purposes of this section.
(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility described in subsection (a) for the purpose of conducting oversight.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 7h

On our nation's 250th birthday, please follow public historians to understand what is happening to the creation of "history." In addition to John, other public historians: @erinbartram.bsky.social @jeanettepatrick.bsky.social @tinashull.bsky.social @aadeleon.bsky.social @evalentin25.bsky.social

John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 8h

It’s the last of these, this attempt to create anti-history slop, that concerns me the most. Ideologically motivated historically cherry picking has happened for ages and isn’t exclusive to the Right. This effort to make ostensibl create fake history feels both more novel and more nefarious.

Reposted by Daniel S. Goldberg, Robert C. Richards, Scott A. Imberman , and 2 more Daniel S. Goldberg, Robert C. Richards, Scott A. Imberman, Goldie Blumenstyk, Magda Teter

Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 17h

An arsonist hit a Mississippi synagogue Saturday. Seven Torahs were damaged or destroyed in the fire.

One Torah, from the Holocaust, was in a glass case and wasn't touched.

The same synagogue was bombed by the KKK in 1967.

mississippitoday.org/2026/01/10/f...

Predawn fire reduces parts of Mississippi's largest synagogue to charred ruins - Mississippi Today

mississippitoday.org

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò , and 3 more Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Jeannette Sutton, Kevin Grant, David Darmofal

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 17h

Horrible. Arson attack today at Mississippi’s largest synagogue, on Shabbat, destroyed multiple Torahs and left parts of the building in ruins

Mississippi Today @mississippitoday.org · 18h

Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins

A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…

Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins

mississippitoday.org

Reposted by Steven Heydemann, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Brendan Nyhan , and 7 more Steven Heydemann, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Brendan Nyhan, Fabián Muniesa, Robert C. Richards, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Aviel Roshwald, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

Mississippi Today @mississippitoday.org · 18h

Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins

mississippitoday.org

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 18h

I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.

Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards, Jeannette Sutton

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 18h

NEWS: A day after the Minneapolis shooting, Secretary Noem quietly signed a new policy barring congressional visits to ICE facilities without a week's advance notice. That policy change led to three MN Dems being blocked from accessing an ICE facility today. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

Reposted by Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 20h

Like I said.

A quote from Senator Whitehouse: “One of the symptoms of Trumpism, frankly, of authoritarianism generally, is the obligation to lie. You’re not on the team, you’re not in the club, you’re not part of the movement if you’re not willing to lie for it.”

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Rep. Ted Lieu @reptedlieu.bsky.social · 21h

It is shameful and unconscionable that ICE agents let Renee Good die and reportedly blocked a doctor from trying to help.

Will be a hard no on this month’s Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill unless significant reforms are made to what ICE has been doing.

Reposted by Jonathan A. Foley, Robert C. Richards, David Darmofal

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 22h

Crowds of protesters across the U.S. mobilized against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on Saturday, three days after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. trib.al/RXQlxWj

Protesters in winter clothes in a large crowd. They carry signs that say things like "ABOLISH ICE," "Winter is the time to DE-ICE" and "Justice for Renee Good." A headline reads: "Anti-ICE Protests Spread Nationwide." Photo by Jordan Gale for The New York Times

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Lora Kolodny @lorak.bsky.social · 22h

Waymo would not say how many of its SF Bay Area robotaxis stalled out and contributed to or caused gridlock during the massive PG&E blackouts recently because their lawyer claimed that...is considered a trade secret www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/w... <-- by SF Chronicle's Rachel Swan

Waymo scolded by judge after robotaxi company refuses to discuss details from power outage

A judge scolded Waymo during an administrative rules proceeding after the company refused to disclose how many of its robotaxis had stalled during a power outage in San Francisco.

www.sfchronicle.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

NPR @npr.org · 22h

In exile for nearly 50 years, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued calls urging Iranians to join protests sweeping the country. But support for him may not be clear cut. n.pr/4qjqAUO

Who is Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince encouraging demonstrations across Iran?

In exile for nearly 50 years, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued calls urging Iranians to join protests sweeping the country. But support for him may not be clear cut.

n.pr

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 22h

The old series “Smash”—
Season one.

Thoughts?

Just watched it.

As someone who LOVES Broadway theater (esp. musical theater), I enjoyed it.

I remember that it was really popular with theater folk.

But don’t remember how it was received.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Jennifer Elsea @jnklz.bsky.social · 22h

For a run-down of applicable legal issues re congressional oversight visits, here’s a thing

www.congress.gov

Reposted by Kori Schake, David H. Kaye, Fabrizio Coticchia , and 4 more Kori Schake, David H. Kaye, Fabrizio Coticchia, Robert C. Richards, Robert Wolfe, Federica Genovese, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Shashank Joshi @shashj.bsky.social · 23h

"A medic at one Tehran hospital said there were "direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well", while a doctor said an eye hospital in the capital had gone into crisis mode"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Iran medics describe hospitals overwhelmed with dead and injured protesters

Hundreds of people are believed to have been killed and injured by the security forces, with more than 70 bodies brought to one hospital.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Fabián Muniesa , and 3 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Fabián Muniesa, Robert C. Richards, Matthew P. McAllister, Colin Woodard

Alan Elrod @aselrod.bsky.social · 23h

People might argue that ICE is not recruiting quality agents.

But I would insist that they are in fact successfully recruiting the exact sort of person needed to carry out the mission: reactionary, angry, violent people who don’t believe in democracy.

www.ms.now/opinion/ice-...

Opinion | ICE's violence is no accident

Alan Elrod: The killing of a woman by an immigration enforcement officer in Minneapolis was the raw application of Trumpist authoritarianism.

www.ms.now

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, David Darmofal

Sara Wallace Goodman @saragoodman.bsky.social · 1d

There are partisan differences in conceptions of good citizenship, with Republicans more likely to view naturalized (and non-Christian) citizens falling short of the ideal.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine my surprise when this showed up today. I had no idea that Melvin Patrick Ely was working on a new book. *Israel on the Appomattox* was brilliant and I am very much looking forward to this one.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

David Wessel @davidmwessel.bsky.social · 1d

Attn 1st & 2nd year undergrads interested in economics and public policy: Applications open thru Feb. 16 for Expanding Discovery in Economics summer program, a JV between the Booth School at the University of Chicago and the Hutchins Center @brookings.edu www.chicagobooth.edu/expanding-di...

Expanding Discovery in Economics+

Expanding discovering in the quantitative social sciences at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

www.chicagobooth.edu

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Robert C. Richards

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 1d

man. the MN subreddit is filled with video after video of stuff like this:

www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/...

ST. PAUL, MN: A sobbing resident calls 911 as federal agents force their way into her home to chase down a DoorDash driver who was just trying to deliver food.

www.reddit.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 1d

Opinion: The NIH has lost its scientific integrity. So we left www.statnews.com/2026/01/10/n...

The NIH has lost its scientific integrity. So we left

“We can no longer lend our credibility to an organization that has lost its integrity,” write four scientists and administrators who recently resigned from the NIH.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Bruno Amable, Joe R. Feagin, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 9 more Bruno Amable, Joe R. Feagin, Rosemary A. Joyce, Juan Cole, Michael Kevane, Robert C. Richards, Charles W. Smith, Alan Richardson, Gerald Friedman, Lisa Diedrich, Ann Bartow, Virginia Sapiro

Ilhan Omar @ilhanmn.bsky.social · 1d

I was just denied access to the ICE processing center at the Whipple Building.

Members of Congress have a legal right and constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight where people are being detained.

The public deserves to know what is taking place in ICE facilities.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

JUST NOW: Huge mass of agents in a standoff, weapons drawn as Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison attempt to conduct congressional oversight at the Whipple Building, which has been HQ for thousands of ICE agents.

@zeteo.com

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Rep. Angie Craig: "We were told because this facility is being funding by the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' not the congressional appropriations act, that we would not be allowed to enter the facility. That's complete nonsense ... I informed them they were violating the law. They said they didn't care."

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Christopher Mims @mims.bsky.social · 1d

Interviews with "current and former immigration officials, police trainers and law-enforcement researchers involved in developing policing manuals" reveal that ICE tactics run counter to best practices widely used to avoid encounters that endanger officers and civilians

www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...

Videos Show How ICE Vehicle Stops Can Escalate to Shootings

A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.

www.wsj.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Mark Bray, Norbert Schwarz , and 30 more Anna O. Law, Mark Bray, Norbert Schwarz, Colin F. Camerer, Nicholas A. Christakis, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Jonathan A. Foley, Scott L. Greer, John Horgan, Daniel Webster, Michael A. Clemens, Eric Goldman, Fabián Muniesa, Sabine Pahl, Michelle Everson, Robert C. Richards, Melanie C. Green, Climent Quintana‐Domeque, Jacob T. Levy, Henry Farrell, Michael D. McDonald, James Goodwin, Dana R. Fisher, David Murakami Wood, Ann Bartow, Nelson Flores, Gerardo Martí, Andrew Rudalevige, Blair Fix, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Jeannette Sutton, David Darmofal

Christopher Mims @mims.bsky.social · 1d

WSJ investigation: In the past 6 months ICE agents have fired at vehicles 13 times, leading to:

* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon

The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire

www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...

Videos Show How ICE Vehicle Stops Can Escalate to Shootings

A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.

www.wsj.com