Rebecca M. Townsend
@rmtownsend.bsky.social
2.5K followers 1K following 810 posts
Deliberation, democracy & public engagement scholar #TeamRhetoric #Commsky politics in US & #CEE #transportation, public memory, Town Meeting. Lifter. Vlach/Aromanian #WMASS @TownModerator.bsky.social
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#BeyondTheColdWar Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope
Book cover: Beyond the Cold: Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe 
Edited by Rebecca M. Townsend
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
My college killed the physical print newspaper a few years after I graduated and deleted the entire online archive while trying to convince the paper’s alumni that the latter is just something media orgs do all the time.
Indiana University has fired the staff director of the student newspaper, after disputes in which university leadership tried to pressure him to prevent students from publishing news.
IndyStar 2 . Follow
1h:
"All Media School and IU students, faculty and staff
should be scared by this blatant attack on someone
standing up for what's right," student Editors-ln-Chief
Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller said in a statement.
Read more: bit.ly/43ebKW1
IndyStar.
IDS
The original investigative student
newsroom of Indiana University
Barge suspends Bloomingtonr
LITTLE 500
IDS
IDS
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Indiana University fires IDS
adviser amid push to control
student newspaper's content The director of student media at Indiana University was fired amidst a dispute between university leadership and editors at the Indiana Daily Student over what content gets printed in the student newspaper.

As director of student media, Jim Rodenbush did not directly oversee or have any say over the content published in the IDS, per a charter between the IDS and the university. But he told IndyStar his firing follows a series of meetings with IU Media School leadership in which it grew increasingly apparent they were expecting him to officially prohibit students from publishing news.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
I’ve been thinking about exactly this. Don’t dumb it down.
I’m by no means an expert but feels with a reminder that antifa is a) real b) one expression of antifascism c) not merely a synonym for antifascism d) again, real, as opposed to the bogeyman version in MAGA’s imagination and executive orders, which are meant to target basically any regime opponent
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Today’s the day! First, the screening of FRANZ, and then our concert featuring music from the film and our new album Mourners. The concert starts at 22:00 at the All About Freedom Festival in ECS, Gdańsk. See you there 🖤
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
2/ Miłosz lived in Washington from 1946 to 1950 and wrote deeply political poems there. In one of them, from the collection "The Light of Day", he writes: "We know that he who wants to rule the world will pass away." And somehow that brings a measure of comfort.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
I’ve arrived at Yale and will soon present the results of my year-long residency so far. But this project will continue, because in 2026 the literary part will be joined by musical and exhibition components. The premiere will take place in New Haven, London, and Gdańsk. More to come.
Looking forward to this very much!
Check with local historical societies and see what they might have to share
Moderators are also celebrating the role town meetings played in the American Revolution.

#LocalDemocracy
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Happy Town Meeting Day!

With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social
For the proclamation!
A Proclamation

Whereas French diplomat, historian, and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville stated,  “Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach” emphasizing the significant role of town meetings within society; and 

Whereas, Town meetings have served residents both for routine matters and in times of crisis by coming to public judgement on matters of self-governance; and

Whereas, The notion of participatory democracy was a foundational rationale for the American Revolution; and

Whereas Revolutionaries learned to engage in deliberation with each other to further their communities’ causes and pledged their lives and liberties to the principles of self-governance in their efforts for freedom; and

Whereas, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were crafted by town meeting members who sought to bring the precepts of participatory self-determination and democracy to the  scripture of our founding documents; and

Whereas, The town meeting legislature and the principles it embodies are as vital and relevant today as they were  amidst the founding of our nation,
 
Now, Therefore, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 8th, 2025, to be, 

TOWN MEETING DAY

And urge all the residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of October, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-ninth.
By Her Excellency 
Maura T. Healey
Governor of the Commonwealth
Kimberley Driscoll
Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
#TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy
Happy Town Meeting Day!

With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social
For the proclamation!
A Proclamation

Whereas French diplomat, historian, and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville stated,  “Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach” emphasizing the significant role of town meetings within society; and 

Whereas, Town meetings have served residents both for routine matters and in times of crisis by coming to public judgement on matters of self-governance; and

Whereas, The notion of participatory democracy was a foundational rationale for the American Revolution; and

Whereas Revolutionaries learned to engage in deliberation with each other to further their communities’ causes and pledged their lives and liberties to the principles of self-governance in their efforts for freedom; and

Whereas, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were crafted by town meeting members who sought to bring the precepts of participatory self-determination and democracy to the  scripture of our founding documents; and

Whereas, The town meeting legislature and the principles it embodies are as vital and relevant today as they were  amidst the founding of our nation,
 
Now, Therefore, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 8th, 2025, to be, 

TOWN MEETING DAY

And urge all the residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of October, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-ninth.
By Her Excellency 
Maura T. Healey
Governor of the Commonwealth
Kimberley Driscoll
Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
This is a great and interesting thread. Flagging this one for my network especially.
We'd much rather you be through security quickly for everyone's sake. For yours, having a good experience, and for ours, not having you potentially slow the folks behind you.

Denver Airport is one of many that recognizes the Sunflower hidden disabilities symbol. If you need it, get a lanyard.
HDS - Global
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discreet sign that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need additional support
hdsunflower.com
-article on

'How Pete Hegseth’s former Minnesota church is leading the new Christian “crusade”'
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
I feel the same.

I am so heartbroken.
So very heartbroken.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
*DEVELOPING*: I've updated my scoop with previously unreported details about the State Dept. staffer who requested the sword, NARA's response, and that the gift Trump gave King Charles III wasn't even a replica of Eisenhower's West Point Officer's Sabre:
lastcampaign.substack.com/p/exclusive-...