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Susan Mayer

@drspmayer.bsky.social

93 followers 26 following 71 posts

Retired social scientist, former federal civil servant, former academic researcher and independent consultant, policy wonk, lover of cats and good food, proud stepmom and grandma, unreconstructed progressive.

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Susan E. Mayer is a professor and former Dean of the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. She is a behavioral economist and sociologist who studies poverty and education. Her research examines the role of money in parenting outcomes. She was previously the director of Northwestern/Chicago's Joint Center on Poverty Research, and is currently the co-director of the Behavioral Insights in Parenting Lab with fellow University of Chicago professor Ariel Kalil. She served as the Dean of the Harris School of Public Policy from 2002 to 2009. .. more

Education 46%

Psychology 15%

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · 11d

I'm in the Chicago area. I hope there's a judge in this circuit who will rule similarly. If there's disorder and chaos here, it's mainly and most blatantly of Trump's storm troopers' making.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Sep 16

Excuse a dumb question, but how is it legal to use your White House office to host a partisan podcast? Hard to imagine anyone who used their work office to engage in this sort of thing wouldn’t be summarily fired.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Sep 15

Trying to decide which is worse. Not lowering the flags for assassinated MN lawmakers or not even remembering the incident. And then deflecting with the ever-weak "no one asked me" defense. This man is an embarrassment to the office he holds,

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Sep 8

Like the rest of us, MAGA knows Trump is a sleaze where women are concerned. They stopped caring long ago. And frankly, although the production of the drawing is useful for proving Trump's denials to be another lie, it tells the rest of nothing we didn't already know about the guy.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Sep 8

Yeah, he's backing off when he realized his little trial balloon sank like a stone. Oops, didn't mean to imply Trump dropped the dime on Epstein when he realized his good buddy had him on possible money laundering with that FL estate deal.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Aug 11

For the showman/conman it's always easiest to just put on a different show. It's all he knows how to do.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jul 4

This is a big "yes, but" thing. Axios has the story: www.axios.com/2025/07/03/b...

Big, beautiful bill gives some seniors a break but excludes poorest

This is a substantial break for folks who pay taxes on retirement benefits.

www.axios.com

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jun 29

Very disappointing. And tellingly, the court gives no reason for declining to take the case. Isn't offering a reason a pretty basic thing for the people of Wisconsin to expect from their highest state court?

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jun 21

I think another comment got it right: He’ll get the No-Bail prize. And well-deserved.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jun 16

I am so mightily tired of Trump claiming this or that "wouldn't have happened if I had been president." Please. We're watching brush fires all around the globe on your watch, Donnie. What ever happened to ending it all on Day 1? I'll tell you: Other world leaders don't respect you. Period.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jun 16

This is an excellent article and a terrifying analysis. But we cannot close our eyes to what is happening, much as we might prefer to do so. Thank you for your continuing reporting and writing. It's essential.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Jun 6

I'm not sure it's numbness so much as having to prioritize issues, given the firehose of stuff the administration keeps drenching us with. People are out there protesting nearly every day about one thing or another.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Apr 20

You've summed it up well enough. We've heard this song before anyway.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Apr 20

I wish we could begin a serious discussion of Trump's mental stability. Psychologically healthy, well-adjusted adults simply do not behave as he does, do not say the kinds of things he does. It's not necessary to arrive at a specific diagnosis. Common sense tells us this just isn't normal.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Apr 18

Breathtaking belligerence, particularly in light of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals' order. Also, pretty dumb and juvenile, like a teenager pouting after he (justly) gets grounded.

Reposted by Susan Mayer, Johann N. Neem

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · Apr 18

The White House just posted this on X.

Fixed it for you, @NYTimes.
Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen — he's NOT coming back.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Apr 13

Something to make you laugh, albeit bitterly,
www.theatlantic.com/culture/arch...

The ‘SNL’ Sketch That Tackled Your Food-Price Anxiety

The show found an ideal vehicle for satirizing the country’s economic anxiety.

www.theatlantic.com

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Apr 4

He said so over the weekend, that he "couldn't care less" if prices rose in response to tariffs. And now that markets are tanking and retirees like me are watching our savings take a hit, he's off for a 3-day weekend to watch a golf match.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 24

I understand the emphatic point you're trying to make, but never say never. Not with this MAGA bunch.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 14

That is surprising considering how restrained Pelosi usually is. Schumer is digging his own political grave. And the rest of the Democrats should take a lesson from the high approval ratings of Mexican and Ukrainian leaders who defy power and stand up for democracy.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 13

Just tried calling his office and couldn't even leave a voicemail. Ugh. But I think he knows what to do. However, Senate Democrats need to get an effective communicator out there to explain what they're doing.

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Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 13

Just called the offices of both my (Democratic) senators and could not get through. Couldn't even leave a voicemail. A good sign? But Senate Dems have to get an effective spokesperson out there to keep updating everyone on what they're asking for - not just what they're opposing.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 12

Ah, yes, Donald Trump, noted Talmudic scholar, opining on who is and who is not really Jewish. Maybe he should run this idea by his rabbi. Oh, wait.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 12

While Trump deliberately breaks the economy, he’s off buying himself an expensive car. Does he even drive? I mean, besides a golf cart. Meanwhile, the rest of us worry about buying groceries or affording retirement.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 5

I hope it’s a dig, but if so, it may be too subtle. Nice looking chicken, though.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 5

Good. I’m a constituent, and I see no value to attending or watching. We already know what he stands for. Himself.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 1

Newspeak is easy to learn due to its limited vocabulary.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 1

For all my 70+ years on this planet, I’ve lived in the free world. That changed today, and I grieve.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 1

Lindsey “Lickspittle” Graham is a disgrace to the Senate and to this country.

Susan Mayer @drspmayer.bsky.social · Mar 1

Yeah, he bought one. For a quarter of a billion dollars. And got a free president as a bonus.