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
Today is a good day to follow, subscribe, and support independent, worker-owned, and reader-funded media: go.bsky.app/2Fq4P6e
February 4, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Today is a good day to follow, subscribe, and support independent, worker-owned, and reader-funded media: go.bsky.app/2Fq4P6e
Reposted by Deva Woodly
The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023.
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
February 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023.
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
As folks think about the way news will need to be organized going forward as the legacy institutions pass out of relevance, nonprofit community trusts or worker co ops seem a good way to go. Ad revenue and clicks can’t be the model.
In 2016, the Philadelphia Inquirer, emerging from a messy bankruptcy, was acquired by Lenfest and donated to a nonprofit community trust. The Graham family, meanwhile, sold the Post to the richest man in the world.
Today, Will Bunch has a job at the Inky, and Karen Attiah was fired from the Post.
Today, Will Bunch has a job at the Inky, and Karen Attiah was fired from the Post.
The Washington Post is worth more to Jeff Bezos dead than alive
February 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM
As folks think about the way news will need to be organized going forward as the legacy institutions pass out of relevance, nonprofit community trusts or worker co ops seem a good way to go. Ad revenue and clicks can’t be the model.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
one thing the trump era has made clear, i think, is that the american people themselves are far more committed to the values of our founding documents than our elites
February 4, 2026 at 4:07 AM
one thing the trump era has made clear, i think, is that the american people themselves are far more committed to the values of our founding documents than our elites
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Sight in San Francisco (from a friend)
February 1, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Sight in San Francisco (from a friend)
Reposted by Deva Woodly
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
February 4, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Striking paper from researchers at Anthropic using a randomised control trial to look at the effects of AI use on skills acquisition.
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
TL:DR ‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery.’
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Reposted by Deva Woodly
I’m teaching a 1 credit class “America at 250: The Revolution” and the final paper asks students to pick one of the grievances in the declaration and assemble primary sources to tell a story of how the issue has played out since in US history.
Fair to say the students are fired up.
Fair to say the students are fired up.
February 4, 2026 at 2:25 AM
I’m teaching a 1 credit class “America at 250: The Revolution” and the final paper asks students to pick one of the grievances in the declaration and assemble primary sources to tell a story of how the issue has played out since in US history.
Fair to say the students are fired up.
Fair to say the students are fired up.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
This is action EVERY city in the country can take. If your hotels cooperate with ICE, goodbye liquor revenue.
A Minneapolis City Council committee delayed action Tuesday on renewing liquor licenses for two Minneapolis hotels that have housed federal immigration officers.
Minneapolis Council committee delays liquor licenses for 2 hotels over hosting federal agents
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the liquor licenses for the Canopy by Hilton in the Mill District and Depot Renaissance Hotel.
www.startribune.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:57 AM
This is action EVERY city in the country can take. If your hotels cooperate with ICE, goodbye liquor revenue.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
The whistles are the entry point. But the long game is the community that is being formed every time someone who has never really been engaged before decides to do This One Thing that gives them a reason to talk to their neighbors.
Community is what saves us in the end. That is my belief.
Community is what saves us in the end. That is my belief.
February 4, 2026 at 3:17 AM
The whistles are the entry point. But the long game is the community that is being formed every time someone who has never really been engaged before decides to do This One Thing that gives them a reason to talk to their neighbors.
Community is what saves us in the end. That is my belief.
Community is what saves us in the end. That is my belief.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
I mean, are they really cheaper or easier to produce than just sourcing the right thing from a mass distributor? it's sweet but doesn't seem Pareto efficient, and I feel like that's important to the revolution
February 4, 2026 at 3:00 AM
I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
Reposted by Deva Woodly
we say this guy chases polls or the Baileys or whatever, but the reality is that he’s just misaligned with Democrats. the polling is clear that this is not what Democrats want.
Chuck is an ideological, pro-cop centrist. He’s saying this because it’s his policy preference. It’s what he wants.
Chuck is an ideological, pro-cop centrist. He’s saying this because it’s his policy preference. It’s what he wants.
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 11:43 PM
we say this guy chases polls or the Baileys or whatever, but the reality is that he’s just misaligned with Democrats. the polling is clear that this is not what Democrats want.
Chuck is an ideological, pro-cop centrist. He’s saying this because it’s his policy preference. It’s what he wants.
Chuck is an ideological, pro-cop centrist. He’s saying this because it’s his policy preference. It’s what he wants.
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...