Bill Franko
@billfranko.bsky.social
Political & economic inequality, class politics & policy. Associate Professor of political science at WVU. #FirstGen
www.williamfranko.com
www.williamfranko.com
Reposted by Bill Franko
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Irish tourist jailed by Ice for months after overstaying US visit by three days: ‘Nobody is safe’
Exclusive: For roughly 100 days, Thomas says he faced harsh detention conditions, despite agreeing to deportation
www.theguardian.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Reposted by Bill Franko
Remember the recent middle-of-the-night apartment building raid where children were dragged outside naked & zip-tied in the street while black & Latino residents were _sorted by race_ and piled into separate vans while their apartments were ransacked & robbed? That raid? So it resulted in 0 arrests.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.
'Noem should resign over this': Fury over alleged DHS 'child kidnapping and trafficking'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.ProPublica recently reported on the DHS raid on an apartment building that was al...
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Remember the recent middle-of-the-night apartment building raid where children were dragged outside naked & zip-tied in the street while black & Latino residents were _sorted by race_ and piled into separate vans while their apartments were ransacked & robbed? That raid? So it resulted in 0 arrests.
Reposted by Bill Franko
The largest solar project in Nevada has been canceled amidst the Trump administration's federal permitting freeze.
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power. heatmap.news/sparks/esmer...
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power. heatmap.news/sparks/esmer...
Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.
heatmap.news
October 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The largest solar project in Nevada has been canceled amidst the Trump administration's federal permitting freeze.
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power. heatmap.news/sparks/esmer...
It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power. heatmap.news/sparks/esmer...
Reposted by Bill Franko
Out of the blue, Trump called the Norwegian finance minister to ask when he would get the Nobel prize suggesting he would impose tariffs if he did not www.dn.no/politikk/fre...
Kilder til DN: Trump tok opp nobelpris i tolltelefon med Stoltenberg (+)
Ut av det blå, mens finansminister Jens Stoltenberg gikk på gaten i Oslo, ringte Donald Trump fra Det hvite hus. Han ville ha Nobelprisen – og diskutere toll.
www.dn.no
August 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Out of the blue, Trump called the Norwegian finance minister to ask when he would get the Nobel prize suggesting he would impose tariffs if he did not www.dn.no/politikk/fre...
Reposted by Bill Franko
The White House is taking new steps to undermine every international student at our universities.
It has approved a new rule restricting student visas to 4 years max. That's not long enough for PhD students, or about half of undergrads, to finish their degree.
Likely to enter force within days.
It has approved a new rule restricting student visas to 4 years max. That's not long enough for PhD students, or about half of undergrads, to finish their degree.
Likely to enter force within days.
August 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The White House is taking new steps to undermine every international student at our universities.
It has approved a new rule restricting student visas to 4 years max. That's not long enough for PhD students, or about half of undergrads, to finish their degree.
Likely to enter force within days.
It has approved a new rule restricting student visas to 4 years max. That's not long enough for PhD students, or about half of undergrads, to finish their degree.
Likely to enter force within days.
Reposted by Bill Franko
I just heard a guest say on MSNBC that Trump likely doesn't have a case in his Wall Street Journal libel case unless he gets Judge Cannon. Everyone nodded and agreed. And it struck me that we've now reached the point where brazen corruption is just expected and accepted as a part of civic life.
July 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I just heard a guest say on MSNBC that Trump likely doesn't have a case in his Wall Street Journal libel case unless he gets Judge Cannon. Everyone nodded and agreed. And it struck me that we've now reached the point where brazen corruption is just expected and accepted as a part of civic life.
Reposted by Bill Franko
ICE detained a veteran and U.S. citizen for three days.
They didn’t let him contact his family or a lawyer. They didn’t let him change or shower. They didn’t give him a reason for his detention.
Under this regime, no one is safe. apnews.com/article/us-a...
They didn’t let him contact his family or a lawyer. They didn’t let him change or shower. They didn’t give him a reason for his detention.
Under this regime, no one is safe. apnews.com/article/us-a...
Army veteran and US citizen arrested in California immigration raid warns it could happen to anyone
A U.S. Army veteran arrested during an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm says he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle on his way to work.
apnews.com
July 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
ICE detained a veteran and U.S. citizen for three days.
They didn’t let him contact his family or a lawyer. They didn’t let him change or shower. They didn’t give him a reason for his detention.
Under this regime, no one is safe. apnews.com/article/us-a...
They didn’t let him contact his family or a lawyer. They didn’t let him change or shower. They didn’t give him a reason for his detention.
Under this regime, no one is safe. apnews.com/article/us-a...
Reposted by Bill Franko
Lawyers for ICE are increasingly hiding their identities in court. This is completely unprecedented.
“We’re not really doing names publicly,” said Judge ShaSha Xu — after stating her own name and those of the immigrants and their lawyers.
theintercept.com/2025/07/15/i...
“We’re not really doing names publicly,” said Judge ShaSha Xu — after stating her own name and those of the immigrants and their lawyers.
theintercept.com/2025/07/15/i...
ICE Lawyers Are Hiding Their Names in Immigration Court
ICE attorneys fighting to deport immigrants are able to obscure their identities — no masks required.
theintercept.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Lawyers for ICE are increasingly hiding their identities in court. This is completely unprecedented.
“We’re not really doing names publicly,” said Judge ShaSha Xu — after stating her own name and those of the immigrants and their lawyers.
theintercept.com/2025/07/15/i...
“We’re not really doing names publicly,” said Judge ShaSha Xu — after stating her own name and those of the immigrants and their lawyers.
theintercept.com/2025/07/15/i...
Reposted by Bill Franko
NEW: Sec. Noem has now admits "last mile" disaster communications weren't up to par in the Texas catastrophe. But while bodies were still being recovered on Tuesday DHS canceled a $3 million grant focused on improving precisely those kinds of "last mile" comms. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dhs-c...
DHS Cancels Extreme Weather Comms Grant While Bodies Still Being Recovered in Texas
As more than a hundred fatalities have been confirmed in Texas flash...
talkingpointsmemo.com
July 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
NEW: Sec. Noem has now admits "last mile" disaster communications weren't up to par in the Texas catastrophe. But while bodies were still being recovered on Tuesday DHS canceled a $3 million grant focused on improving precisely those kinds of "last mile" comms. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dhs-c...
Reposted by Bill Franko
People who think there is going to inevitably be a big pro-Dem backlash against Medicaid cuts should read this article.
You have to remember there is an entire proganda apparatus that will blame the Dems for the effects of these Republican cuts.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
You have to remember there is an entire proganda apparatus that will blame the Dems for the effects of these Republican cuts.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Politics of Rural Hospital Closures - Political Behavior
Who do citizens hold responsible for outcomes and experiences? Hundreds of rural hospitals have closed or significantly reduced their capacity since just 2010, leaving much of the rural U.S. without a...
link.springer.com
July 3, 2025 at 12:45 PM
People who think there is going to inevitably be a big pro-Dem backlash against Medicaid cuts should read this article.
You have to remember there is an entire proganda apparatus that will blame the Dems for the effects of these Republican cuts.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
You have to remember there is an entire proganda apparatus that will blame the Dems for the effects of these Republican cuts.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Bill Franko
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
June 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
Reposted by Bill Franko
Trump administration cuts to NSF will result in more than 200,000 FEWER people per year involved in basic science, training, and education - what should have been the next generation of US scientists. This isn't even eating your seed corn, it is setting your seed corn on fire and salting the earth.
May 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Trump administration cuts to NSF will result in more than 200,000 FEWER people per year involved in basic science, training, and education - what should have been the next generation of US scientists. This isn't even eating your seed corn, it is setting your seed corn on fire and salting the earth.
Reposted by Bill Franko
Read through this thread about the appeals court opinion just released by the fourth circuit, written by famous conservative Judge Wilkinson.
"This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear."
"This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear."
"The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order."
April 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Read through this thread about the appeals court opinion just released by the fourth circuit, written by famous conservative Judge Wilkinson.
"This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear."
"This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear."
Reposted by Bill Franko
Bone chilling.
A court ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to stay in the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he was illegally removed. Trump is pretending he won the ruling 9-0.
1/ You may not think this case means anything to you. But let me tell you why it does.
A court ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to stay in the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he was illegally removed. Trump is pretending he won the ruling 9-0.
1/ You may not think this case means anything to you. But let me tell you why it does.
April 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Bone chilling.
A court ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to stay in the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he was illegally removed. Trump is pretending he won the ruling 9-0.
1/ You may not think this case means anything to you. But let me tell you why it does.
A court ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to stay in the United States.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he was illegally removed. Trump is pretending he won the ruling 9-0.
1/ You may not think this case means anything to you. But let me tell you why it does.
Reposted by Bill Franko
This feels like the defining image from this year’s Midwest Political Science Association annual meeting.
The National Science Foundatipn paid for a booth in the exhibit hall. But the booth sits empty, because NSF has been DOGE’d, and there is no one left to send.
The National Science Foundatipn paid for a booth in the exhibit hall. But the booth sits empty, because NSF has been DOGE’d, and there is no one left to send.
April 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This feels like the defining image from this year’s Midwest Political Science Association annual meeting.
The National Science Foundatipn paid for a booth in the exhibit hall. But the booth sits empty, because NSF has been DOGE’d, and there is no one left to send.
The National Science Foundatipn paid for a booth in the exhibit hall. But the booth sits empty, because NSF has been DOGE’d, and there is no one left to send.
Reposted by Bill Franko
As a candidate, Trump promised to end surprise medical billing.
Just weeks into his second term, DOGE has slashed the federal office charged with implementing a bipartisan law cracking down on surprise medical bills.
Yet another Trump lie.
Just weeks into his second term, DOGE has slashed the federal office charged with implementing a bipartisan law cracking down on surprise medical bills.
Yet another Trump lie.
Trump vowed to end surprise medical bills. The team working on that just got slashed
Trump's first round of staff cuts to federal agencies eliminated dozens of positions at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, in charge of implementing the No Surprises Act.
www.npr.org
March 5, 2025 at 11:00 PM
As a candidate, Trump promised to end surprise medical billing.
Just weeks into his second term, DOGE has slashed the federal office charged with implementing a bipartisan law cracking down on surprise medical bills.
Yet another Trump lie.
Just weeks into his second term, DOGE has slashed the federal office charged with implementing a bipartisan law cracking down on surprise medical bills.
Yet another Trump lie.
Reposted by Bill Franko
Authoritarians threaten to arrest and deport protestors against the regime in power. Not democratic leaders.
March 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Authoritarians threaten to arrest and deport protestors against the regime in power. Not democratic leaders.
Reposted by Bill Franko
“Musk and his little Heydrichs are literally snatching nutrient paste out of the mouths of starving babies. That is the kind of people we are dealing with.” prospect.org/world/2025-0...
Elon Musk’s Looming Disease Holocaust
The shadow president is gutting America’s vast humanitarian aid system. Millions may die.
prospect.org
March 3, 2025 at 7:19 PM
“Musk and his little Heydrichs are literally snatching nutrient paste out of the mouths of starving babies. That is the kind of people we are dealing with.” prospect.org/world/2025-0...
Reposted by Bill Franko
This is horrible for the future of American science and innovation and economic wellbeing and all the things
Pitt is not a small institution
It has nearly 10K grad students
It is where Salk discovered the polio vaccine
Pitt is not a small institution
It has nearly 10K grad students
It is where Salk discovered the polio vaccine
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed Friday that there would be no new Ph.D. offers of admission while Pitt works to understand how reduced federal aid could impact the institution.
The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty
A spokesperson for the University told WESA Friday that the school has "temporarily paused additional Ph.D. offers of admission," while Pitt works to understand how proposed federal funding cuts could...
www.wesa.fm
February 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This is horrible for the future of American science and innovation and economic wellbeing and all the things
Pitt is not a small institution
It has nearly 10K grad students
It is where Salk discovered the polio vaccine
Pitt is not a small institution
It has nearly 10K grad students
It is where Salk discovered the polio vaccine
Reposted by Bill Franko
ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden "represents the agency in immigration court hearings where judges decide whether an individual is removed from the country"
February 19, 2025 at 11:25 PM
ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden "represents the agency in immigration court hearings where judges decide whether an individual is removed from the country"
Reposted by Bill Franko
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
February 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
Reposted by Bill Franko
Scoop: The databases powering DOGE.gov are insecure, and people outside the government have already pushed their own updates to the site to prove it:
www.404media.co/anyone-can-p...
www.404media.co/anyone-can-p...
Anyone Can Push Updates to the DOGE.gov Website
"THESE 'EXPERTS' LEFT THEIR DATABASE OPEN."
www.404media.co
February 14, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Scoop: The databases powering DOGE.gov are insecure, and people outside the government have already pushed their own updates to the site to prove it:
www.404media.co/anyone-can-p...
www.404media.co/anyone-can-p...
Reposted by Bill Franko
The partisan swing in inflation expectations since the election is WILD. Yes, you're reading the chart right -- Republicans on average expect *zero* inflation over the next year.
(Data here is through January.)
h/t to @mikedonnelly.bsky.social for flagging this.
(Data here is through January.)
h/t to @mikedonnelly.bsky.social for flagging this.
February 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The partisan swing in inflation expectations since the election is WILD. Yes, you're reading the chart right -- Republicans on average expect *zero* inflation over the next year.
(Data here is through January.)
h/t to @mikedonnelly.bsky.social for flagging this.
(Data here is through January.)
h/t to @mikedonnelly.bsky.social for flagging this.