Matthew Blanton
@matthewblanton.bsky.social
Sociologist and demographer. Migration and religion. English and Spanish. @utaustinsoc & @UTPopCenter
https://www.matthewblanton.com/
https://www.matthewblanton.com/
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
An insane political move. One of the recurring complaints about immigration in the U.S. is that those seeking asylum jump the line. This is line-jumping — but for rich people, not those in need.
December 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
An insane political move. One of the recurring complaints about immigration in the U.S. is that those seeking asylum jump the line. This is line-jumping — but for rich people, not those in need.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Big new blogpost!
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
My guide to data visualization, which includes a very long table of contents, tons of charts, and more.
--> Why data visualization matters and how to make charts more effective, clear, transparent, and sometimes, beautiful.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/salonis-gu...
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Latin America’s religious map is changing in surprising ways. Fewer people are going to church or claiming a specific faith, but personal belief is still going strong (unlike in the US)
Even 86% of those who say they’re unaffiliated to a church or religion still believe in God.
Even 86% of those who say they’re unaffiliated to a church or religion still believe in God.
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
Protestant churches’ growth in Latin America gets lots of attention, but another important shift is happening, too: people leaving organized religion altogether.
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Latin America’s religious map is changing in surprising ways. Fewer people are going to church or claiming a specific faith, but personal belief is still going strong (unlike in the US)
Even 86% of those who say they’re unaffiliated to a church or religion still believe in God.
Even 86% of those who say they’re unaffiliated to a church or religion still believe in God.
In my new article for @theconversation.com, I share findings from 20 years of data showing how faith is changing in Latin America — in ways many wouldn’t expect: theconversation.com/yes-to-god-b...
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
Protestant churches’ growth in Latin America gets lots of attention, but another important shift is happening, too: people leaving organized religion altogether.
theconversation.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
In my new article for @theconversation.com, I share findings from 20 years of data showing how faith is changing in Latin America — in ways many wouldn’t expect: theconversation.com/yes-to-god-b...
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
He’s gesturing to a sleeping man as he says “He’s the only leader in the world who can help end [the war in Ukraine].”
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
The Trump administration believes that the rich and powerful should be pardoned for their crimes, even after judges and juries determined their guilt.
But if you’re a non-white guy in a fishing boat, there’s no need for a trial or even an arrest. Murder from above, no questions asked.
But if you’re a non-white guy in a fishing boat, there’s no need for a trial or even an arrest. Murder from above, no questions asked.
When this criminal was jailed, the judge told David Gentile and America: ‘This is a warning to would-be fraudsters that seeking to get rich by taking advantage of investors gets you only a one-way ticket to jail.’ I guess not
November 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The Trump administration believes that the rich and powerful should be pardoned for their crimes, even after judges and juries determined their guilt.
But if you’re a non-white guy in a fishing boat, there’s no need for a trial or even an arrest. Murder from above, no questions asked.
But if you’re a non-white guy in a fishing boat, there’s no need for a trial or even an arrest. Murder from above, no questions asked.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Nice to see a Democratic Senator speak directly about Trump administration criminality without couching it in careful consultant-speak or trying to force it into an economic frame.
But Hegseth won’t be fired for war crimes. He was appointed *because* he advocates war crimes.
It’s up to Congress.
But Hegseth won’t be fired for war crimes. He was appointed *because* he advocates war crimes.
It’s up to Congress.
Pete Hegseth is a war criminal and should be fired immediately.
November 30, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Nice to see a Democratic Senator speak directly about Trump administration criminality without couching it in careful consultant-speak or trying to force it into an economic frame.
But Hegseth won’t be fired for war crimes. He was appointed *because* he advocates war crimes.
It’s up to Congress.
But Hegseth won’t be fired for war crimes. He was appointed *because* he advocates war crimes.
It’s up to Congress.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Opinion | We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Charlotte-Mecklebburg Schools, according to reports, saw 15% of its students absent today amid Border Patrol operations in Charlotte. If that percentage of 15% happens Tuesday in Wake County due to the Border Patrol coming to Raleigh, 24.000 students could be absent from school. #nced #ncpol #wcpss
November 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
The Department of Unsubtle Metaphors continues to exceed expectations
President Trump walking past the flag at the Whitehouse which has fallen to the ground
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 AM
The Department of Unsubtle Metaphors continues to exceed expectations
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Easy choice if you're a deer deciding where to buy a house
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Easy choice if you're a deer deciding where to buy a house
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Venezuelans sent by Trump to El Salvador endured systematic torture, report finds www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Venezuelans sent by Trump to El Salvador endured systematic torture, report finds
Human rights groups accuse Trump officials of complicity and draw comparison with scandal at Abu Ghraib prison
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Venezuelans sent by Trump to El Salvador endured systematic torture, report finds www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
These big wins will embolden Dems to take on Trump's lawbreaking and show there's a price for GOP enabling of him. Folks hate to hear this, but normal patterns are asserting themselves: Liberalism isn't dead, Rs are likely to lose in 2026, and Trump is really unpopular, not a magical exception.
November 5, 2025 at 1:30 AM
These big wins will embolden Dems to take on Trump's lawbreaking and show there's a price for GOP enabling of him. Folks hate to hear this, but normal patterns are asserting themselves: Liberalism isn't dead, Rs are likely to lose in 2026, and Trump is really unpopular, not a magical exception.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
ICE Agent, 7-Year-Old Both Wearing Same ‘Military Commando’ Halloween Costume
October 31, 2025 at 9:00 PM
ICE Agent, 7-Year-Old Both Wearing Same ‘Military Commando’ Halloween Costume
Great thread on Bovino court appearance today.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is on the witness stand in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. He is wearing his typical Border Patrol uniform.
"Good morning, your honor," he says.
"Good morning, your honor," he says.
Ellis is calling Bovino to the witness stand.
Will start a new thread for his testimony.
Will start a new thread for his testimony.
October 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Great thread on Bovino court appearance today.
New research brief from my recent study published in Society and Mental Health (@asasmh.bsky.social). How do post-migration stressors affect the mental and physical health of refugees and asylum seekers?
October 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
New research brief from my recent study published in Society and Mental Health (@asasmh.bsky.social). How do post-migration stressors affect the mental and physical health of refugees and asylum seekers?
Can't wait to read this!
What happens when public servants are asked to betray the values that brought them to service? New research traces how asylum officers under Trump navigated moral crisis and how their ability—or inability—to form with peers a shared aspiration for moral resolution determined who stayed or who left.
Asylum Decision-Making Under Trump: Shared Aspirations for Moral Realignment as a Mechanism of Moral Boundary Work in Times of Crisis | American Journal of Sociology: Vol 0, No ja
www.journals.uchicago.edu
October 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Can't wait to read this!
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
"normies do not care about this thing and so it is no use raising a stink" is imho just an excuse for not doing politics, which is the job of making normies care about something
October 24, 2025 at 2:47 AM
"normies do not care about this thing and so it is no use raising a stink" is imho just an excuse for not doing politics, which is the job of making normies care about something
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Every weekday on Broadway, undocumented immigrants line up to enter 26 Federal Plaza. They enter harshly lit hallways where ICE agents mill around — waiting to take people away. For our cover story, Stephanie Keith captures the anguished scenes of arrest in downtown Manhattan. buff.ly/N6JNPUP.
October 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Every weekday on Broadway, undocumented immigrants line up to enter 26 Federal Plaza. They enter harshly lit hallways where ICE agents mill around — waiting to take people away. For our cover story, Stephanie Keith captures the anguished scenes of arrest in downtown Manhattan. buff.ly/N6JNPUP.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Hi, I'm the ProPublica reporter who's been tracking an unusual stat: U.S. citizens grabbed by immigration agents.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
October 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Hi, I'm the ProPublica reporter who's been tracking an unusual stat: U.S. citizens grabbed by immigration agents.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
Thank you for this reporting!
Extraordinary NEW story: We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Thank you for this reporting!
Analysis does not replicate.
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story only someone in your profession would understand:
"Provenance: Anonymous Swiss collection"
🏺
"Provenance: Anonymous Swiss collection"
🏺
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story only someone in your profession would understand
"landowner used an excavator"
"landowner used an excavator"
October 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Analysis does not replicate.
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
I have a YouTube channel where you can watch this short video about Trump's murder spree in the Caribbean alongside all my congressional testimony. We recorded the video shortly after the 2nd boat strike... but there have been more already. Like, comment, subscribe
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RUJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RUJ...
Trump is ordering people executed
YouTube video by David J. Bier
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I have a YouTube channel where you can watch this short video about Trump's murder spree in the Caribbean alongside all my congressional testimony. We recorded the video shortly after the 2nd boat strike... but there have been more already. Like, comment, subscribe
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RUJ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RUJ...
Reposted by Matthew Blanton
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
October 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN