Dan Pemstein
@danpemstein.com
Political economist working mostly on democratic institutions, tech, political careers and party org, and measurement. http://www.danpemstein.com
https://digitalsocietyproject.org
https://digitalsocietyproject.org
Pinned
Dan Pemstein
@danpemstein.com
· Jun 2
Happy to share this paper with Jeevan Baniya, @smeserve.bsky.social, and Brigitte Seim. We used multiple survey experiments to see how Nepali voters think about the trade-off between vote-buying and candidate provision of local public goods (schools, plumbing) in office. doi.org/10.1111/ajps... 1/
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Just published a deep look at where open social networks stand in 2025: Mastodon’s leadership change, Bluesky’s trajectory, AT Protocol, ActivityPub, cross-network tools, and more. For newsrooms and public service orgs, this moment really matters. werd.io/the-state-of...
The State of the Open Social Web
A comprehensive look at Mastodon, Bluesky, and the growing ecosystem of open, interoperable social networks.
werd.io
November 18, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Just published a deep look at where open social networks stand in 2025: Mastodon’s leadership change, Bluesky’s trajectory, AT Protocol, ActivityPub, cross-network tools, and more. For newsrooms and public service orgs, this moment really matters. werd.io/the-state-of...
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
![On official UC letterhead:
UNIVERSITY
OF
CALIFORNIA
James B. Milliken President
Office of the President
1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607
universityofcalifornia.edu
CAMPUSES Berkeley
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
Merced
Riverside San Diego San Francisco
Santa Barbara Santa Cruz
MEDICAL CENTERS
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
San Diego
San Francisco
NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
November 18, 2025
Dear Chancellors:
I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive.
As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California.
Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines.
Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership.
[continued on next image]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rzn6yramffebefeitqifiqqz/bafkreigiwq5ongzwpj4wqmgjam3yfvhyjnv5e3dbq6cnrrbwblqvs624gq@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
I would love to read an account of this saga that isn’t written in an atrociously purple way but seems like that’s too much to ask of anyone involved
November 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I would love to read an account of this saga that isn’t written in an atrociously purple way but seems like that’s too much to ask of anyone involved
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
During Jim Crow, everything from restaraunts to stores to hotels to pharmacies to gas stations required making safe choices. They shaped every trip a Black person made. We document that history, and you can add your story to it here #CommunityMap: greenbookproject.osu.edu #GreenBookProject #EconSky
November 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
During Jim Crow, everything from restaraunts to stores to hotels to pharmacies to gas stations required making safe choices. They shaped every trip a Black person made. We document that history, and you can add your story to it here #CommunityMap: greenbookproject.osu.edu #GreenBookProject #EconSky
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
In chart form (with a slightly different basket of comparison agencies) bsky.app/profile/empt...
November 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In chart form (with a slightly different basket of comparison agencies) bsky.app/profile/empt...
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
“With concepts like harmlessness or reasoning, people oftentimes just throw the word around to pick something that falls near that category that they can measure and say, ‘Great, now I’ve measured it,’” Bean added.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
I appreciate the work of these authors to show that this problem not only is still here but has grown:
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
But it is also quite frustrating 🧵>>
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
But it is also quite frustrating 🧵>>
AI's capabilities may be exaggerated by flawed tests, according to new study
A study from the Oxford Internet Institute analyzed 445 tests used to evaluate AI models.
www.nbcnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:24 PM
“With concepts like harmlessness or reasoning, people oftentimes just throw the word around to pick something that falls near that category that they can measure and say, ‘Great, now I’ve measured it,’” Bean added.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect & who gets heard. In partnership with Knight Georgetown Institute, we are launching a new series, Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data. The series starts today, with an essay from KGI’s Leticia Bode and Peter Chapman.
Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data | TechPolicy.Press
Introducing a series from Tech Policy Press and the Knight-Georgetown Institute, exploring why public platform data access is vital in today’s digital world.
www.techpolicy.press
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect & who gets heard. In partnership with Knight Georgetown Institute, we are launching a new series, Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data. The series starts today, with an essay from KGI’s Leticia Bode and Peter Chapman.
November 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Very few Americans support actual political violence. Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
goodauthority.org
October 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
People are commenting “welcome to turkmenistan” all over Kyrgyz social media —and I have to say that the measure is indeed more extreme than anything we’ve seen in Kazakhstan or even Uzbekistan in recent years
October 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
People are commenting “welcome to turkmenistan” all over Kyrgyz social media —and I have to say that the measure is indeed more extreme than anything we’ve seen in Kazakhstan or even Uzbekistan in recent years
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Saw a few more people in Teddy Roosevelt & on the Maah Daah Hey trail than I saw in the Boundary Waters two weeks ago, but not many. Did see Bison (only a couple, most are in winter pasture), feral horses, and prairie dogs. Heard coyote and elk.
TRNP/Maah Daah Hey 2025
Explore this photo album by Dan Pemstein on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Saw a few more people in Teddy Roosevelt & on the Maah Daah Hey trail than I saw in the Boundary Waters two weeks ago, but not many. Did see Bison (only a couple, most are in winter pasture), feral horses, and prairie dogs. Heard coyote and elk.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Opinion: Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'
Washington University in St. Louis has built its reputation on a simple ideal: excellence wins. For decades, our researchers have competed for and won federal grants based on the quality
www.stltoday.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Don’t look away.
October 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Don’t look away.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Check out the data paper (open access) and the publicly available data: We hope that many people will use it in their research and for other purposes.
NEW -
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments - https://cup.org/47i6oKQ
- @jacobnyrup.bsky.social, @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social & Ina Lyftingsmo Kristiansen
#OpenAccess
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments - https://cup.org/47i6oKQ
- @jacobnyrup.bsky.social, @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social & Ina Lyftingsmo Kristiansen
#OpenAccess
October 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Check out the data paper (open access) and the publicly available data: We hope that many people will use it in their research and for other purposes.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Hi all. A little clarification: the Purdue student journalists did OFFER to do this but "Unfortunately and understandably, the IDS declined the offer, fearing expulsion of its student leaders and more firings of its professional staff." They printed and delivered a statement of solidarity instead
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
October 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Hi all. A little clarification: the Purdue student journalists did OFFER to do this but "Unfortunately and understandably, the IDS declined the offer, fearing expulsion of its student leaders and more firings of its professional staff." They printed and delivered a statement of solidarity instead
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
There have been 12 players to hit 3+ HR in a Postseason game.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
October 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
There have been 12 players to hit 3+ HR in a Postseason game.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Those of you at universities might share our recent report on public opinion with their leadership.
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
American Higher Education Barometer
Measuring American Attitudes Towards Higher Education
edbarometer.org
October 18, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Those of you at universities might share our recent report on public opinion with their leadership.
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
New data for legislative scholars! Committee Membership Dataset with @bcastanho.bsky.social, @dmpullan.bsky.social and Firuze Taner:
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
GESIS-Suche
doi.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
New data for legislative scholars! Committee Membership Dataset with @bcastanho.bsky.social, @dmpullan.bsky.social and Firuze Taner:
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
One casualty in the Trump administration’s war on higher education is federal funding for area studies. This harms students, scholars, and U.S. national security.
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
Comparative Politics Needs Area Studies, and Area Studies Needs Comparative Politics
If you were a graduate student in political science between 1990 and 2010 or so, you probably experienced some heated debates about the future of area studies and its role in the discipline. This w…
tompepinsky.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
One casualty in the Trump administration’s war on higher education is federal funding for area studies. This harms students, scholars, and U.S. national security.
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
2025 isn't over yet but it's unlikely that Twitter will see a resurgence of research discussions.
October 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
2025 isn't over yet but it's unlikely that Twitter will see a resurgence of research discussions.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...
Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter
Alter’s termination occurred on Sept. 10, stemming from his remarks at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7.
spectrumlocalnews.com
October 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...