Amy Fried
@asfried.bsky.social
Political scientist, kayaker
Emeritus, UMaine
Political Sightlines at https://amyfried.substack.com/
Books on how U.S. conservatives weaponized distrust, New England politics, professionalizing polling, and perceptions of public opinion as a resource
Emeritus, UMaine
Political Sightlines at https://amyfried.substack.com/
Books on how U.S. conservatives weaponized distrust, New England politics, professionalizing polling, and perceptions of public opinion as a resource
Pinned
Amy Fried
@asfried.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Blueskyers, I’m a retired political scientist, still actively writing and doing more real politics, whose core research has been on the history and political uses of public opinion. But I've done research other topics, too! My 1st pub was on abortion politics, the latest on ranked choice voting. 1/5
Reposted by Amy Fried
These are not people who make this kind of statement lightly.
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:19 PM
These are not people who make this kind of statement lightly.
Reposted by Amy Fried
Professor Jack Goldsmith, head of George W. Bush Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC):
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org
November 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Professor Jack Goldsmith, head of George W. Bush Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC):
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
"I do not believe that even the Bondi OLC could legally justify the events the Post reported."
"There can be no conceivable legal justification for what the Washington Post reported."
Reposted by Amy Fried
This seems like the kind of declaration by a U.S. president that should be mentioned *somewhere* on the front page of CNN or the NY Times, but the fact that it isn't (as of right now) tells us so much both about how this president is covered and the credibility of the U.S. government.
November 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This seems like the kind of declaration by a U.S. president that should be mentioned *somewhere* on the front page of CNN or the NY Times, but the fact that it isn't (as of right now) tells us so much both about how this president is covered and the credibility of the U.S. government.
Reposted by Amy Fried
Wait, I was told 19 kids dead in a single month didn’t matter.
November 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Wait, I was told 19 kids dead in a single month didn’t matter.
Reposted by Amy Fried
Airspace we don’t control. Are we going to start shooting planes out of the sky now like Putin?
November 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Airspace we don’t control. Are we going to start shooting planes out of the sky now like Putin?
Reposted by Amy Fried
So Trump just pardoned the former prez of Honduras, who:
-took a $1M bribe from El Chapo:
-was aided his in clemency campaign by Roger Stone
-ran for reelection despite a law against it, thus setting off political violence that killed dozens.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
-took a $1M bribe from El Chapo:
-was aided his in clemency campaign by Roger Stone
-ran for reelection despite a law against it, thus setting off political violence that killed dozens.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
Trump Announces Pardon for Honduran Ex-President Convicted in Drug Case
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
So Trump just pardoned the former prez of Honduras, who:
-took a $1M bribe from El Chapo:
-was aided his in clemency campaign by Roger Stone
-ran for reelection despite a law against it, thus setting off political violence that killed dozens.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
-took a $1M bribe from El Chapo:
-was aided his in clemency campaign by Roger Stone
-ran for reelection despite a law against it, thus setting off political violence that killed dozens.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
Reposted by Amy Fried
This is unhinged, unadulterated white nationalism that is so off-the-charts fascist not even David Duke would have said that in public.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 6:02 AM
This is unhinged, unadulterated white nationalism that is so off-the-charts fascist not even David Duke would have said that in public.
This kind of argument was used against Stephen Miller’s family members, Eastern European Jews, and other groups that immigrated to the U.S. He is a bigot and a shonda.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This kind of argument was used against Stephen Miller’s family members, Eastern European Jews, and other groups that immigrated to the U.S. He is a bigot and a shonda.
Reposted by Amy Fried
The vibe here is really "guy who was part of a U.S.-aligned death squad got told he's getting sent back to Afghanistan to die"
well that tracks
(also should put to rest any bleating about “vetting” but we live in hell so)
(also should put to rest any bleating about “vetting” but we live in hell so)
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The vibe here is really "guy who was part of a U.S.-aligned death squad got told he's getting sent back to Afghanistan to die"
Reposted by Amy Fried
U.S. Navy veteran "100 percent" regrets voting for Trump—after ICE detains his wife.
Now she's locked up on Thanksgiving Day—despite not being charged with any crime—and being a lawful permanent resident.
Donna Hughes-Brown wrote a bad check for $25 in 2015—she paid it back and served probation.
Now she's locked up on Thanksgiving Day—despite not being charged with any crime—and being a lawful permanent resident.
Donna Hughes-Brown wrote a bad check for $25 in 2015—she paid it back and served probation.
November 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
U.S. Navy veteran "100 percent" regrets voting for Trump—after ICE detains his wife.
Now she's locked up on Thanksgiving Day—despite not being charged with any crime—and being a lawful permanent resident.
Donna Hughes-Brown wrote a bad check for $25 in 2015—she paid it back and served probation.
Now she's locked up on Thanksgiving Day—despite not being charged with any crime—and being a lawful permanent resident.
Donna Hughes-Brown wrote a bad check for $25 in 2015—she paid it back and served probation.
Reposted by Amy Fried
The Trump regime doesn't follow the law. It's an illegal administration.
19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer - ABC News share.google/vNItsrikjwet...
19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer - ABC News share.google/vNItsrikjwet...
19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer
A 19-year-old college student who was on her way to surprise her family for Thanksgiving break was detained at a Boston airport and later deported.
share.google
November 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Trump regime doesn't follow the law. It's an illegal administration.
19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer - ABC News share.google/vNItsrikjwet...
19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer - ABC News share.google/vNItsrikjwet...
Reposted by Amy Fried
Joe Baldacci email: [email protected]
I don’t know if he reads his emails because I never got a response when I wrote him a constituent query, but I encourage folks to reach out to Joe to discourage him from running. #mepolitics
So Joe Baldacci, my state senator, now is saying he's going to run for ME-2. He is an inferior candidate to Matt Dunlap and should sit this out. #mepolitics www.wmtw.com/article/demo...
November 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Joe Baldacci email: [email protected]
Today is my fourth Thanksgiving as a person with cancer.
My family doesn’t look like this Norman Rockwell illustration but I like it because he did a series based on FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech. This one is titled Freedom From Want. open.substack.com/pub/amyfried...
My family doesn’t look like this Norman Rockwell illustration but I like it because he did a series based on FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech. This one is titled Freedom From Want. open.substack.com/pub/amyfried...
My Fourth Thanksgiving With Cancer
Reflections on kvetching, loving, and enjoying life with ovarian cancer
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Today is my fourth Thanksgiving as a person with cancer.
My family doesn’t look like this Norman Rockwell illustration but I like it because he did a series based on FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech. This one is titled Freedom From Want. open.substack.com/pub/amyfried...
My family doesn’t look like this Norman Rockwell illustration but I like it because he did a series based on FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech. This one is titled Freedom From Want. open.substack.com/pub/amyfried...
Reposted by Amy Fried
This means NSF dissertation improvement grants in the social sciences are simply...not happening.
NEW from me - NSF cancels grant scheme for social science research.
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Today's biggest science news: Doomed comet explodes | Comet 3I/ATLAS course alteration | Dark matter detected?
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.
www.livescience.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This means NSF dissertation improvement grants in the social sciences are simply...not happening.
I don’t know if he reads his emails because I never got a response when I wrote him a constituent query, but I encourage folks to reach out to Joe to discourage him from running. #mepolitics
So Joe Baldacci, my state senator, now is saying he's going to run for ME-2. He is an inferior candidate to Matt Dunlap and should sit this out. #mepolitics www.wmtw.com/article/demo...
Candidate for Maine governor Jackson addresses CD-2 speculation
It's been speculated that Democrat Troy Jackson could get into the race for Maine's 2nd congressional district as U.S. Rep. Jared Golden will not seek reelection.
www.wmtw.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I don’t know if he reads his emails because I never got a response when I wrote him a constituent query, but I encourage folks to reach out to Joe to discourage him from running. #mepolitics
Reposted by Amy Fried
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
My oncologist at Lafayette Cancer Treatment Center in Brewer told me they could not function without immigrant doctors. #mepolitics www.npr.org/sections/sho...
'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant physicians?
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S.
www.npr.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
My oncologist at Lafayette Cancer Treatment Center in Brewer told me they could not function without immigrant doctors. #mepolitics www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Amy Fried
Among white people, the correlation between racial resentment and their voting decision is much, much stronger than between educational attainment and political alignment.
In fact, if you control for racial resentment, education polarization basically disappears.
In fact, if you control for racial resentment, education polarization basically disappears.
November 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Among white people, the correlation between racial resentment and their voting decision is much, much stronger than between educational attainment and political alignment.
In fact, if you control for racial resentment, education polarization basically disappears.
In fact, if you control for racial resentment, education polarization basically disappears.
Reposted by Amy Fried
1939 was the year with two Thanksgivings, as President Roosevelt moved the holiday from Nov 30 to Nov 23 to encourage more holiday shopping. Maine’s Republican Governor Lewis Barrows was so opposed, he refused to eat turkey at a Nov 23 event, opening a can of sardines at the table instead.
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
1939 was the year with two Thanksgivings, as President Roosevelt moved the holiday from Nov 30 to Nov 23 to encourage more holiday shopping. Maine’s Republican Governor Lewis Barrows was so opposed, he refused to eat turkey at a Nov 23 event, opening a can of sardines at the table instead.
Reposted by Amy Fried
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
So Joe Baldacci, my state senator, now is saying he's going to run for ME-2. He is an inferior candidate to Matt Dunlap and should sit this out. #mepolitics www.wmtw.com/article/demo...
Candidate for Maine governor Jackson addresses CD-2 speculation
It's been speculated that Democrat Troy Jackson could get into the race for Maine's 2nd congressional district as U.S. Rep. Jared Golden will not seek reelection.
www.wmtw.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:24 AM
So Joe Baldacci, my state senator, now is saying he's going to run for ME-2. He is an inferior candidate to Matt Dunlap and should sit this out. #mepolitics www.wmtw.com/article/demo...
Platner wants people to yell at elected officials when they’re at restaurants as a way of getting them to pass major legislation. (He also wants normal stuff people do like calling offices.) Does anyone know of a case when that strategy worked as he envisions? #mepolitics
Credit where it’s due - today’s PPH article on the US Senate race is more substantive than others I’ve complained about #mepolitics
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/24/g...
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/24/g...
Graham Platner hopes his campaign is a movement that continues even if he loses
'What I want to build, is gonna take way more than one single Senate seat,' said the 41-year-old Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate.
www.pressherald.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Platner wants people to yell at elected officials when they’re at restaurants as a way of getting them to pass major legislation. (He also wants normal stuff people do like calling offices.) Does anyone know of a case when that strategy worked as he envisions? #mepolitics
Reposted by Amy Fried
No guarantees in Maine’s 2nd, a House district Trump won three times but which has flipped between R and D control lately. You just hope for a good, solid, community-grounded candidate, with the kinds of qualities money can’t buy. Nice profile here 👇
Matt Dunlap is the kind of Democrat who can win Maine’s 2nd Congressional District #mepolitics www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/25/o...
Opinion: Matt Dunlap is the kind of Democrat who can win Maine’s 2nd Congressional District
“Dunlap also brings varied experience that undercuts any attempt to paint him as extreme or unprepared.”
www.bangordailynews.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
No guarantees in Maine’s 2nd, a House district Trump won three times but which has flipped between R and D control lately. You just hope for a good, solid, community-grounded candidate, with the kinds of qualities money can’t buy. Nice profile here 👇
Reposted by Amy Fried
Here it comes: the crisis wave of Americans making the tough choice to drop coverage — in the face or rising premiums.
@reuters.com $XLV
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
@reuters.com $XLV
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Here it comes: the crisis wave of Americans making the tough choice to drop coverage — in the face or rising premiums.
@reuters.com $XLV
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
@reuters.com $XLV
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Reposted by Amy Fried
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.