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Reposted by Walter Olson

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 6h

An important piece from @walterolson.bsky.social at @cato.org on Trump’s extortionary compact for US colleges and universities.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Reason Magazine @reason.com · 2d

The Trump administration said Americans would fill farm jobs vacated by undocumented workers.

That's not happening, the Department of Labor now admits.

Trump's Labor Department admits that Trump's immigration crackdown is causing a shortage of farm workers

With fewer immigrant workers available on American farms, there is a risk of "supply shock-induced food shortages," the Labor Department says.

reason.com

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 8h

Remember, though, it will hurt Kristi Noem's feelings if you call them secret police.

Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates

The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Ira 'Bluebeard Homer' Goldman @kdbyproxy.bsky.social · 14h

As long as there is money in the bank (and there is), Trump can pay the troops now by ignoring (aka, violating) the Antideficiency Act, a violation for which there is no remedy – because of Trump's immunity, Trump's pardon power, and (afaict) no one having standing to obtain judicial relief.

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 10h

"It should be an easy decision for college presidents not to stick their institution’s neck into this retroactive push-button guillotine."

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 12h

The National Guard mainly exists for domestic purposes as a compact where Governors agree to help each other in cases of disasters.

It runs on trust and norms of reciprocity.

Having Governors send their troops against the will of the receiving state creates some real long term problems.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 14h

Texas is preparing emergency resources for wildfires and floods. The Texas National Guard should be THERE — not in Illinois.

We stand ready to support their return home so they are best positioned for helping Texans respond to any natural disasters.

Abbott activates emergency resources ahead of growing wildfire threat, flood risk in Texas

With expected growing wildfire danger across Texas and the potential for a flood risk this weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott is activating more state emergency response resources Friday.

trib.al

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Reposted by Walter Olson

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 12h

Robert De Niro: “Now we have a would-be king — King Donald the First. Fuck that. I’m Robert De Niro and I’m asking you to stand up and be counted in the nationwide No Kings protest on October 18th”

👉👉 nokings.org

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 11h

Kerrygold Reserve, which was highly satisfactory.

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 11h

I liked it a lot. I can see some people finding it too rich.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 11h

Recipe link for Vermont Cheddar Cheese Soup. I like the idea of serving a small portion as a start to Thanksgiving dinner. /2, end

Cheddar Cheese Soup

This flavor-packed, filling soup is made with pantry staples and frugal vegetables, such as carrot, onion and celery, and a generous amount of sharp cheddar cheese.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 11h

I made (just me this time) what a recipe bills as Vermont Cheddar Cheese Soup. Toward the end you add grated carrots and finely diced celery plunged into boiling water for 30 secs only, then into an ice bath, taking off the raw edge but leaving crunch. Recipe link in comments. /1 #BlueskySupperClub

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 16h

When Trump team pushed to investigate Soros, it cited a watchdog group report. But the group's own leader says "we actually did not make either of those claims that a prosecutor would need to make.” @fahrenthold.bsky.social @aduehren.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

Report on Soros Cited by Justice Dept. Does Not Show Funding for Terrorism

www.nytimes.com

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 14h

In 2026, "Trump could wreak all kinds of electoral havoc, Hasen said, such as 'Sending troops to block voting in some areas, seizing voting machines, pressuring election officials to illegally count or not count valid ballots, or change the vote count.... I don’t think anything is off the table.'”

MSN

www.msn.com

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 2d

Perry cites other fed prosecutions/lawsuits in Chicago and says "in the last 48 hours, in four separate unrelated legal decision from different neutral parties, they all cast significant doubt on DHS' credibility and assessment of what is happening on the streets of Chicago."

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 16h

ICE is an armed gang, and they’re only going to get worse. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

Opinion | The Chicago raids send a worrying signal about the ideal ICE agents in Trump's America

The agency is on a hiring spree. But we know what that kind of breakneck expansion of the workforce can result in because we’ve seen it before.

www.msnbc.com

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 17h

Everything about this is bonkers. The arrest, the charge, the possible sentence, the **$2 million bail.**

reason.com/2025/10/10/t...

Tennessee man arrested, gets $2 million bond for posting Facebook meme

Larry Bushart posted a meme on a local Facebook page about Charlie Kirk. He now faces years in prison.

reason.com

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 1d

If your university will not remake itself in Marc Rowan & May Mailman's preferred image, it can expect a complete shutoff of "federal funds."

To emphasize the point Rowan says it again: "THEY NEED NOT ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDING"

I hope this will put to rest the credulous "carrot not stick" narrative.

No school will be forced to adhere to the compact’s principles of fairness, civility, neutrality and transparency. If schools do not want to be accountable to these requirements, they need not accept federal funding.

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 18h

Notable commentary on the university "compact"--notable to me because the Cato Institute is a conservative/libertarian think tank.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 18h

@walterolson.bsky.social at the Cato Institute emphasizes the same thing that struck me so much: the enforcement mechanism in this compact. He calls it a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

(The DOJ is standing there at the button; the university is the one whose neck is below the guillotine.)

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Nora Demleitner @norademleitner.bsky.social · 20h

Excellent piece on the „compact on higher ed“ that highlights also some of its lesser discussed parts, including the undefined views universities would have to police, the claw-back provision (aka „guillotine“) & the curious right of private donors to have their gifts returned.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Reposted by Walter Olson

Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 1d

"It should be an easy decision for college presidents not to stick their institution’s neck into this retroactive push-button guillotine."

And yet, somehow, for 8 of them it isn't.

Informative essay, well worth reading.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

3 14 43

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

24 380 1.4K

Reposted by Walter Olson

SDixon @bpanther1.bsky.social · 2d

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

The Boat Strikes Are Just the Beginning

What the Trump administration is portraying as a drug mission may be about a lot more.

www.theatlantic.com

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

From my colleague Ian Vasquez: Peace Nobelist Maria Corina Machado "is one of the world’s most admirable leaders... She [has] consistently and clearly articulated an [opposition] agenda to establish a liberal democracy—based on limited power, the rule of law, civil liberties, and a market economy."

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Champion of Freedom, Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Maria Corina has proven herself to be an effective, well-organized, and savvy leader who has given Venezuelans reasons to hope that they will be free sooner rather than later. Her well-earned Nobel Pr...

www.cato.org

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

I’ll be out waving a sign with friends at #NoKings on October 18. We love America and no sane person would ever confuse us with supporters of Hamas or Antifa. Come join us and speak out to help preserve our constitutional republic.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "

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