Alexandre Blanchet
@alexblanchet.bsky.social
Directeur de l’analyse stratégique et de la transformation sociale, Commissaire au bien-être et aux droits des enfants du Québec | Politologue | papa 2x | Coureur 🏃♂️
Posts in English & Français
📍Montréal, Québec, Canada
Posts in English & Français
📍Montréal, Québec, Canada
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
New work on on Immigration attitudes, out in @irpp.org with @natashagoel.bsky.social
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
In 2015, only 16% strongly agreed Canada had too much immigration. By 2024, that number doubled to 33%.
This IRPP paper by @randybesco.bsky.social and @natashagoel.bsky.social reveals a striking reversal in Canadians’ views on immigration: centre.irpp.org/research-stu...
This IRPP paper by @randybesco.bsky.social and @natashagoel.bsky.social reveals a striking reversal in Canadians’ views on immigration: centre.irpp.org/research-stu...
December 4, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New work on on Immigration attitudes, out in @irpp.org with @natashagoel.bsky.social
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Ds don't seem to be getting what they need out of Nashville. But if the margin lands at R+3, that's a D+19 shift from 2024 -- we're not talking a wave, we're talking tsunami
again @gelliottmorris.com says behn still has a chance but damn 3 points in this district is 🦇💩
December 3, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Ds don't seem to be getting what they need out of Nashville. But if the margin lands at R+3, that's a D+19 shift from 2024 -- we're not talking a wave, we're talking tsunami
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Le coroner remet son enquête sur la mort de la petite Mariia, 7 ans, tuée par un automobiliste à un arrêt de son école primaire à l’approche de Noël.
Quelques mois, la fillette et sa famille avaient fui les combats en Ukraine après l’invasion russe.
Quelques mois, la fillette et sa famille avaient fui les combats en Ukraine après l’invasion russe.
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Le coroner remet son enquête sur la mort de la petite Mariia, 7 ans, tuée par un automobiliste à un arrêt de son école primaire à l’approche de Noël.
Quelques mois, la fillette et sa famille avaient fui les combats en Ukraine après l’invasion russe.
Quelques mois, la fillette et sa famille avaient fui les combats en Ukraine après l’invasion russe.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Trump's approval ratings are tanking.
He's flailing on the economy.
He backtracked on the Epstein files and lost control of the GOP.
His plot to steal the 2026 midterms is faltering.
Do not let him gaslight you into believing he is all powerful.
He's flailing on the economy.
He backtracked on the Epstein files and lost control of the GOP.
His plot to steal the 2026 midterms is faltering.
Do not let him gaslight you into believing he is all powerful.
November 20, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Trump's approval ratings are tanking.
He's flailing on the economy.
He backtracked on the Epstein files and lost control of the GOP.
His plot to steal the 2026 midterms is faltering.
Do not let him gaslight you into believing he is all powerful.
He's flailing on the economy.
He backtracked on the Epstein files and lost control of the GOP.
His plot to steal the 2026 midterms is faltering.
Do not let him gaslight you into believing he is all powerful.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Costly signaling like gang tattoos - if it's subtle, doesn't work
As of January, plastic surgeons in Washington DC have seen a “surge in ‘Mar-a-Lago face’ requests from Trump insiders”...Surgeons told the outlet that more Washingtonians want their procedures to be not unnoticed but obvious and overdone." www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Plastic surgeons wrestle with requests for ‘Mar-a-Lago face’: ‘You’re going to look like Maleficent’
The puffy, artificial look is rising in popularity - thanks to Maga elite such as Kristi Noem and Matt Gaetz
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Costly signaling like gang tattoos - if it's subtle, doesn't work
À égalité statistique avec Incertain.
Beaucoup de gens semblent attendre une autre option…
Beaucoup de gens semblent attendre une autre option…
Léger : « Lequel des chefs de partis politiques provinciaux suivants ferait le meilleur premier ministre du Québec ? »
Le PQ conserve la tête, mais l’écart se resserre, ma chronique → www.qc125.ca/p/leger-le-p...
Le PQ conserve la tête, mais l’écart se resserre, ma chronique → www.qc125.ca/p/leger-le-p...
November 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
À égalité statistique avec Incertain.
Beaucoup de gens semblent attendre une autre option…
Beaucoup de gens semblent attendre une autre option…
C’est via un article dans le NYT que je découvre que Jean-Philippe Pleau a écrit un livre que je devrais absolument lire. Considérant la thématique, ma déconnexion des médias québécois a quelque chose d’ironique. C’est aussi profondément triste.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
A Quebec Writer Confronts His ‘Little Darkness’ as a Class Defector
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
C’est via un article dans le NYT que je découvre que Jean-Philippe Pleau a écrit un livre que je devrais absolument lire. Considérant la thématique, ma déconnexion des médias québécois a quelque chose d’ironique. C’est aussi profondément triste.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/w...
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
👇👇👇
The problem w polling - as someone who does lots of surveys - is that surveys construct opinions that simply do not exist in nature for *huge* chunks of people and too few of the data science bros conducting campaign polling understand this very basic feature the survey response. Vibes indeed.
The existence of this photograph (which is a real photo of a real person at a Mamdani campaign event) is enough to establish for me that voters writ large have absolutely no grasp of what policy is or how any given policy impacts their lives. It's all vibes.
October 30, 2025 at 4:04 AM
👇👇👇
Les États-Unis sont en train de saboter les fondations de leur dominance en matière d’innovation. Ceux qui s’imaginent que le « magnificent 7 » est possible sans cet écosystème universitaire ont un doigt dans l’œil jusqu’au coude…
Some doctoral programmes in the US are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding
go.nature.com/4o63boK
go.nature.com/4o63boK
US PhD admissions shrink as fears over Trump’s cuts take hold
Some doctoral programmes are admitting no students at all amid uncertainty about federal science funding.
go.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Les États-Unis sont en train de saboter les fondations de leur dominance en matière d’innovation. Ceux qui s’imaginent que le « magnificent 7 » est possible sans cet écosystème universitaire ont un doigt dans l’œil jusqu’au coude…
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
This is an essential. "Democrats need to beat the Trumpists in elections that we ensure are free" is the best strategy for the next 2-4 years. But it is not a long-term strategy! The only possible long-term strategy is that someone else needs to defeat the Trumpists for control of the Repub Party.
“Win every election” is not a viable strategy for preventing authoritarianism
October 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This is an essential. "Democrats need to beat the Trumpists in elections that we ensure are free" is the best strategy for the next 2-4 years. But it is not a long-term strategy! The only possible long-term strategy is that someone else needs to defeat the Trumpists for control of the Repub Party.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
October 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
L’ironie est que, pendant ce temps, les enseignants communiquent avec les parents via des groupes Facebook « privés » parce qu’on est toujours incapables d’avoir une alternative qui ferait le boulot.
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/219...
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/219...
Les informations d’enfants et de parents compromises
Des centaines d’écoles et de garderies du Québec utilisent une application, HopHop, qui met à risque les informations de milliers d’enfants et de parents.
ici.radio-canada.ca
October 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
L’ironie est que, pendant ce temps, les enseignants communiquent avec les parents via des groupes Facebook « privés » parce qu’on est toujours incapables d’avoir une alternative qui ferait le boulot.
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/219...
ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/219...
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
October 6, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
The thing regular people don’t often grasp about ‘academic freedom’ is that if you don’t allow experts to research & teach in their fields of expertise, guided by their professional judgment & decades of training, you have effectively given up on the concept of knowledge & shut down your university
Universities are moving rapidly to comply with laws that don't exist.
“I’m emotionally shellshocked right now,” said one professor in the Texas Tech system. “What does it say about academic freedom? It says we don’t have it.” The professor spoke by phone from the inside of a car to avoid being overheard by colleagues.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
September 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The thing regular people don’t often grasp about ‘academic freedom’ is that if you don’t allow experts to research & teach in their fields of expertise, guided by their professional judgment & decades of training, you have effectively given up on the concept of knowledge & shut down your university
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
Imagine a politician giving a speech down the street from an ICE processing center, telling protesters to "fight like hell," and those protesters then breaking into the center and smashing stuff.
Clearly that wouldn't be his fault.
Clearly that wouldn't be his fault.
Top Trump officials are reportedly working to identify groups whose activities “led to” violence, whatever that means. The vagueness is the point: The people's government is actively looking for political activity they can *pretend* to link to violence. 5/
newrepublic.com/article/2009...
newrepublic.com/article/2009...
September 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Imagine a politician giving a speech down the street from an ICE processing center, telling protesters to "fight like hell," and those protesters then breaking into the center and smashing stuff.
Clearly that wouldn't be his fault.
Clearly that wouldn't be his fault.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
David Letterman réagissant à la répression gouvernementale à l'égard des talkshow de fin de soirée, son emploi pendant des décennies :
David Letterman to Jeffrey Goldberg on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension: “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian—a criminal—administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.” #TAF25 bit.ly/4n0Uv2p
September 18, 2025 at 11:46 PM
David Letterman réagissant à la répression gouvernementale à l'égard des talkshow de fin de soirée, son emploi pendant des décennies :
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
🧵 Who's the most informed about American politics? Very lefty seculars.
My new FREE study @sfjournal.bsky.social finds atheists/agnostics, especially if they are politically sorted, score higher on knowledge of basic civics & current politics than other groups. 1/ academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...
My new FREE study @sfjournal.bsky.social finds atheists/agnostics, especially if they are politically sorted, score higher on knowledge of basic civics & current politics than other groups. 1/ academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...
September 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
🧵 Who's the most informed about American politics? Very lefty seculars.
My new FREE study @sfjournal.bsky.social finds atheists/agnostics, especially if they are politically sorted, score higher on knowledge of basic civics & current politics than other groups. 1/ academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...
My new FREE study @sfjournal.bsky.social finds atheists/agnostics, especially if they are politically sorted, score higher on knowledge of basic civics & current politics than other groups. 1/ academic.oup.com/sf/advance-a...
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
DJT: I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: this business decision was driven by
DJT: No I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: Unitary executive theory implies that
DJT: I SAID I AM USING THE STATE TO PUNISH CRITICISM AND EXTORT PEOPLE FOR MONEY
WH: this business decision was driven by
DJT: No I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: Unitary executive theory implies that
DJT: I SAID I AM USING THE STATE TO PUNISH CRITICISM AND EXTORT PEOPLE FOR MONEY
“I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!”
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
DJT: I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: this business decision was driven by
DJT: No I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: Unitary executive theory implies that
DJT: I SAID I AM USING THE STATE TO PUNISH CRITICISM AND EXTORT PEOPLE FOR MONEY
WH: this business decision was driven by
DJT: No I am using the state to punish criticism and extort people
WH: Unitary executive theory implies that
DJT: I SAID I AM USING THE STATE TO PUNISH CRITICISM AND EXTORT PEOPLE FOR MONEY
Tout est devenu tellement con.
UPDATE: President Trump and his deputies tied autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, presented a cancer drug as a possible treatment, and said the FDA would change labeling to reflect both claims. There is little strong scientific evidence for either.
Trump blames Tylenol for autism. Science doesn't back him up
President Trump and his deputies tied autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, presented a cancer drug as a possible treatment, and said the FDA would change labeling to reflect both claims. There is little strong scientific evidence for either.
n.pr
September 23, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Tout est devenu tellement con.
Reposted by Alexandre Blanchet
“They studied 51 populist presidents and prime ministers who were in power between 1900 and 2020 and found that after 15 years, GDP per capita was 10% lower when compared with a plausible nonpopulist counterfactual.”
The US economy has a new problem: Democracy is under siege www.cnn.com/2025/09/22/b...
The US economy has a new problem: Democracy is under siege | CNN Business
Some political scientists see a pattern that suggests American democracy is being undermined in real time. The stakes are massive for the US economy and the business world.
www.cnn.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
“They studied 51 populist presidents and prime ministers who were in power between 1900 and 2020 and found that after 15 years, GDP per capita was 10% lower when compared with a plausible nonpopulist counterfactual.”
This essentially means the end of the US as an international hub for virtually everything that has driven economic growth over the past 70 years.
there’s a lot of talk about big tech and corporations but so many international academic colleagues are also on H1Bs.
no university is going to pay 100k extra a year to keep them. if this holds, it would essentially mean the end of foreigners on tenure track jobs at US universities.
no university is going to pay 100k extra a year to keep them. if this holds, it would essentially mean the end of foreigners on tenure track jobs at US universities.
At $100,000 per H1B visa, Amazon alone will end up paying $1 Billion. Or, more likely, laying off most of their international staff.
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
September 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This essentially means the end of the US as an international hub for virtually everything that has driven economic growth over the past 70 years.