Deva Woodly
@devawo.bsky.social
Politics Prof.| Kettering Foundation Research Fellow| Author of The Politics of Common Sense & Reckoning: Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Necessity of Social Movements
Reposted by Deva Woodly
One of the best parts of my job these days is getting to reflect on how we're building the organizational nuts and bolts at the core of the public power movement...this one got me fired up for the year we have ahead!
Some good news from our corner of the movement! We are so thrilled that @sylviachi.bsky.social has joined us to launch our new law and policy program, plus public power support is growing across the country in New York, Tucson, Ann Arbor, Santa Fe, and Willmar, Minnesota.
NEWS: New law and policy program, Overcharged report, public power advancing!
My name is Sylvia Chi, and I’m joining Public Grids as Senior Counsel. I’m excited to launch our new law and policy program this year to support the public power movement nationwide!
buttondown.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM
One of the best parts of my job these days is getting to reflect on how we're building the organizational nuts and bolts at the core of the public power movement...this one got me fired up for the year we have ahead!
Reposted by Deva Woodly
We have a Boston Review Forum out today on the Democratic Party in a time of authoritarianism
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
February 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
We have a Boston Review Forum out today on the Democratic Party in a time of authoritarianism
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
Reposted by Deva Woodly
We need institutions and it’s best for them to be well designed and for the people who fill the roles within them to cultivate civic virtue. But the only guarantee of democracy is a free people who understands they have only lent their authority & can organize to take it back.
February 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM
We need institutions and it’s best for them to be well designed and for the people who fill the roles within them to cultivate civic virtue. But the only guarantee of democracy is a free people who understands they have only lent their authority & can organize to take it back.
Wrote a whole book about how social movements are what ensures democracy. Everything else tends toward oligarchy.
"People stepping up to protect the country when Congress and the Supreme Court won’t *is* democracy.
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
I’ve been noodling this piece over for a while. It ties together a few threads that i think ought to be tied together.
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
February 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Wrote a whole book about how social movements are what ensures democracy. Everything else tends toward oligarchy.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
"People stepping up to protect the country when Congress and the Supreme Court won’t *is* democracy.
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
I’ve been noodling this piece over for a while. It ties together a few threads that i think ought to be tied together.
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
This is what democracy looks like
The Trump administration claims the imprimatur of the people. The people disagree.
www.pbump.net
February 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM
"People stepping up to protect the country when Congress and the Supreme Court won’t *is* democracy.
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
Democracy isn’t simply being defended. It’s being reorganized — out of unfortunate necessity, but effectively. So much so that the huge centers of power are finally starting to notice."
Reposted by Deva Woodly
I'm convinced one of the reasons epstein was able to coast for so long is that for many sensible people including and especially educated liberals, viewing the world through a conspiratorial lens was always seen as vaguely distasteful and rube-coded
as someone who pushes hard against conspiratorial thinking in my professional and political life, it is deeply irritating when, on top of the untold human harms Epstein caused, it turns out he was at the center of at least half a dozen actual conspiracies
February 3, 2026 at 3:11 PM
I'm convinced one of the reasons epstein was able to coast for so long is that for many sensible people including and especially educated liberals, viewing the world through a conspiratorial lens was always seen as vaguely distasteful and rube-coded
Reposted by Deva Woodly
“You need only know this: Whatever is happening with your data, it is important enough to the most egregiously lawless administration in American history that it be collected and consolidated.” Always read @tressiemcphd.bsky.social (gift link)
Opinion | Democracy Dies by Database
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:19 PM
“You need only know this: Whatever is happening with your data, it is important enough to the most egregiously lawless administration in American history that it be collected and consolidated.” Always read @tressiemcphd.bsky.social (gift link)
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Trump to Harvard: 2 billion $
NYT: Harvard to pay 2B$
Harvard: no
Trump: 1B
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations intensify
Trump: 200 million
NYT: Harvard-Trump reach deal
Harvard: no
Trump: 0$
Harvard: ok
NYT: Harvard not paying! Trump loses.
Trump: How about 1B$
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations resume!
NYT: Harvard to pay 2B$
Harvard: no
Trump: 1B
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations intensify
Trump: 200 million
NYT: Harvard-Trump reach deal
Harvard: no
Trump: 0$
Harvard: ok
NYT: Harvard not paying! Trump loses.
Trump: How about 1B$
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations resume!
February 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Trump to Harvard: 2 billion $
NYT: Harvard to pay 2B$
Harvard: no
Trump: 1B
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations intensify
Trump: 200 million
NYT: Harvard-Trump reach deal
Harvard: no
Trump: 0$
Harvard: ok
NYT: Harvard not paying! Trump loses.
Trump: How about 1B$
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations resume!
NYT: Harvard to pay 2B$
Harvard: no
Trump: 1B
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations intensify
Trump: 200 million
NYT: Harvard-Trump reach deal
Harvard: no
Trump: 0$
Harvard: ok
NYT: Harvard not paying! Trump loses.
Trump: How about 1B$
Harvard: no
NYT: Negotiations resume!
Reposted by Deva Woodly
A manager for the Immigrant Defense Network told MPR News that back in November, 2,500 people were trained as constitutional observers. Now, the total is nearly 30,000 trained observers in 77 of Minnesota's 87 counties.
Nearly 30,000 Minnesotans trained as constitutional observers
The Immigrant Defense Network works with more than 100 organizations to help train constitutional observers. At the end of November, there were 2,500 trained observers. That number has soared as more ...
www.mprnews.org
February 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
A manager for the Immigrant Defense Network told MPR News that back in November, 2,500 people were trained as constitutional observers. Now, the total is nearly 30,000 trained observers in 77 of Minnesota's 87 counties.
Just to be clear, for the last several cycles it has looked like NY was tending purple. But that looks to be a trend decisively (at least temporarily) reversed and, if Mamdani is successful, perhaps generationally reversed. Unfair that so much is riding on the NYC administration but here we are.
Republicans mightily struggling in New York in a new Siena poll.
Kathy Hochul leads GOP opponent Bruce Blakeman 54% to 28%. (She won by 6% in 2022.)
Democrats have a 56/29 lead in the generic congressional ballot. (Result was 57/43 in 2024).
Trump approval is 33/63. sri.siena.edu/2026/02/03/h...
Kathy Hochul leads GOP opponent Bruce Blakeman 54% to 28%. (She won by 6% in 2022.)
Democrats have a 56/29 lead in the generic congressional ballot. (Result was 57/43 in 2024).
Trump approval is 33/63. sri.siena.edu/2026/02/03/h...
February 3, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Just to be clear, for the last several cycles it has looked like NY was tending purple. But that looks to be a trend decisively (at least temporarily) reversed and, if Mamdani is successful, perhaps generationally reversed. Unfair that so much is riding on the NYC administration but here we are.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Zohran Mamdani's STATEWIDE favorability rating is 48/32, with a positive rating among independents (43/31).
Within New York City (via a crosstab), Mamdani's favorability rating in this poll is 68% to 20%.
Within New York City (via a crosstab), Mamdani's favorability rating in this poll is 68% to 20%.
February 3, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Zohran Mamdani's STATEWIDE favorability rating is 48/32, with a positive rating among independents (43/31).
Within New York City (via a crosstab), Mamdani's favorability rating in this poll is 68% to 20%.
Within New York City (via a crosstab), Mamdani's favorability rating in this poll is 68% to 20%.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Hey look it's Charles Murray in the Epstein files, with good ol' Jeffrey noting how he once flew to visit him
February 3, 2026 at 5:43 AM
Hey look it's Charles Murray in the Epstein files, with good ol' Jeffrey noting how he once flew to visit him
Reposted by Deva Woodly
yeah seeing the "Minneapolis took off because the so-called 'activists' got out of the way and let normal people in" takes is really frustrating. that's not at all an accurate look at what's happening in Mpls or anywhere else. All these movements rely on cores of people who have experience.
Lots of regular degular, never-done-an-activism folks have been activated in recent months and are working alongside a bunch of seasoned, die-hard, been-tired-for-ten-years-or-more organizers, and you don't know all of those stories bc most people are moving with a bit of discretion in these times.
February 3, 2026 at 4:42 AM
yeah seeing the "Minneapolis took off because the so-called 'activists' got out of the way and let normal people in" takes is really frustrating. that's not at all an accurate look at what's happening in Mpls or anywhere else. All these movements rely on cores of people who have experience.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
January 18, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
Reposted by Deva Woodly
It really bums me out that Klobuchar, who was instrumental in normalizing Trump as just another political adversary, is almost certainly going to be the next governor of Minnesota, a state currently paying a severe price for that normalization of fascism.
Here's all the Klobuchar v. Republican matchups from that SurveyUSA poll
Best Klobuchar lead is +20, worst is +14
Best Klobuchar lead is +20, worst is +14
February 3, 2026 at 3:16 AM
It really bums me out that Klobuchar, who was instrumental in normalizing Trump as just another political adversary, is almost certainly going to be the next governor of Minnesota, a state currently paying a severe price for that normalization of fascism.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
A federal judge stayed Noem’s decision to end Haiti’s temporary protected status, thank goodness. But it's still vital to understand how "they're eating the pets" participatory propaganda was used to motivate and justify that policy change. This article gives a detailed breakdown of that effort.
Highly recommend this article showing how the "They're Eating the Pets" refrain emerged from the right's participatory propaganda machine. Extremely relevant, as many Haitian immigrants (the targets of that false rumor/campaign) lose their status Feb 3. americanunreality.substack.com/p/american-u...
American Unreality — Part 1: Springfield, Ohio
The Story That Devoured a Town
americanunreality.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:04 AM
A federal judge stayed Noem’s decision to end Haiti’s temporary protected status, thank goodness. But it's still vital to understand how "they're eating the pets" participatory propaganda was used to motivate and justify that policy change. This article gives a detailed breakdown of that effort.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
The fact that so many of the ICE and CBP guys who have been terrorizing Latino communities are themselves Latino and often immigrants themselves should be something we think about, especially with all the ‘this is just about white supremacists terrorizing people of color’ talk flying around
February 1, 2026 at 10:02 PM
The fact that so many of the ICE and CBP guys who have been terrorizing Latino communities are themselves Latino and often immigrants themselves should be something we think about, especially with all the ‘this is just about white supremacists terrorizing people of color’ talk flying around
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
February 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
I am a middle aged college professor. My mom does this every semester. And it is one of very favorite things.
February 2, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I am a middle aged college professor. My mom does this every semester. And it is one of very favorite things.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
sorry maybe this is an unnecessary level of stating the obvious, but sometimes when someone says they don’t think puerto ricans are “american,” it isn’t an opportunity to do a little civics gotcha & tell them about the insular cases. they just mean they think real americans are white.
February 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
sorry maybe this is an unnecessary level of stating the obvious, but sometimes when someone says they don’t think puerto ricans are “american,” it isn’t an opportunity to do a little civics gotcha & tell them about the insular cases. they just mean they think real americans are white.
Are there really simply no mechanisms to stop a President from doing this?
he is going to demolish the kennedy center and there will be a hole in the ground for three years
February 2, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Are there really simply no mechanisms to stop a President from doing this?
My kingdom for a monster of the week show with 20 episodes a season, compelling characters, and a cozily well-built world.
February 2, 2026 at 8:26 PM
My kingdom for a monster of the week show with 20 episodes a season, compelling characters, and a cozily well-built world.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
I don’t think I can say this forcefully enough: hundreds of thousands of Haitians will lose status tomorrow with racist ending of their TPS & are spending today refreshing their feeds for a court order that could literally save thier lives.
This is nothing short of psychosocial torture.
This is nothing short of psychosocial torture.
February 2, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I don’t think I can say this forcefully enough: hundreds of thousands of Haitians will lose status tomorrow with racist ending of their TPS & are spending today refreshing their feeds for a court order that could literally save thier lives.
This is nothing short of psychosocial torture.
This is nothing short of psychosocial torture.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Here's a great read for Black History Month (or any month!). In The Cooking Gene, James Beard award-winning culinary and cultural historian @koshersoul.bsky.social travels the South, tracing his roots and the history of Southern cuisine.
p.s. Please buy books from indies not ICE-enabling oligarchs.
p.s. Please buy books from indies not ICE-enabling oligarchs.
February 2, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Here's a great read for Black History Month (or any month!). In The Cooking Gene, James Beard award-winning culinary and cultural historian @koshersoul.bsky.social travels the South, tracing his roots and the history of Southern cuisine.
p.s. Please buy books from indies not ICE-enabling oligarchs.
p.s. Please buy books from indies not ICE-enabling oligarchs.
She has a very sweet song about her grandma. youtu.be/gQ3E6JVitVk
February 2, 2026 at 3:37 PM
She has a very sweet song about her grandma. youtu.be/gQ3E6JVitVk