Desiree Fields
@desireefields.bsky.social
Critical economic geographer: digital experiments with property, place, financial subjectivity. Opinions are my own.
@ucbgeography.bsky.social
Editor, Environment and Planning A + @housingtheory.bsky.social
@ucbgeography.bsky.social
Editor, Environment and Planning A + @housingtheory.bsky.social
Reposted by Desiree Fields
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 Desiree Fields
Struck this morning by how the win wasn’t from the UC system itself pushing back—it was its worker power through *unions* and aligned groups like @aaup.org defending UC interests, even though admin itself wasn’t.
There’s some kind of lesson here
There’s some kind of lesson here
One reason why elite schools (Columbia, Brown, Cornell) caving to Trump’s illegal impoundment and extortion is so galling — a betrayal, really — is that they would have won had they fought. By giving up, they guaranteed every other school will have to fight harder.
Judge bars Trump from immediately cutting funding to the University of California | CNN Politics
The Trump administration cannot immediately cut federal funding to the University of California or issue fines against the school system over claims it allows antisemitism or other forms of discrimina...
www.cnn.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Struck this morning by how the win wasn’t from the UC system itself pushing back—it was its worker power through *unions* and aligned groups like @aaup.org defending UC interests, even though admin itself wasn’t.
There’s some kind of lesson here
There’s some kind of lesson here
Reposted by Desiree Fields
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
democracyforward.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:21 AM
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
Reposted by Desiree Fields
What exactly are they investigating? No one was prevented from speaking
The school responded w/over the top punitive treatment of nonviolent protestors, just as Trump would want.
It’s like they are opening investigations based on how many likes it will garner on X.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/u...
The school responded w/over the top punitive treatment of nonviolent protestors, just as Trump would want.
It’s like they are opening investigations based on how many likes it will garner on X.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/u...
Justice Department to Investigate Protests at Turning Point Event at Berkeley
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
What exactly are they investigating? No one was prevented from speaking
The school responded w/over the top punitive treatment of nonviolent protestors, just as Trump would want.
It’s like they are opening investigations based on how many likes it will garner on X.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/u...
The school responded w/over the top punitive treatment of nonviolent protestors, just as Trump would want.
It’s like they are opening investigations based on how many likes it will garner on X.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/u...
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Every technology problem is three social problems in a trench coat
ok one last post -- oldheads are always going to "why is the web dying.... how can we get the kids invested in the free and open web"
bro the kids can't read. that's why the web is dying. first things first
bro the kids can't read. that's why the web is dying. first things first
November 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Every technology problem is three social problems in a trench coat
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Reposted by Desiree Fields
This kind of action is important for many reasons but in particular it demonstrates that students are self-motivated and exposes the lie of supposed indoctrination. Good luck brainwashing THESE folks.
Our students are just stunning. Their bravery and integrity put our leaders to shame.
Student organization coalition files amicus brief supporting lawsuit against Trump - Daily Bruin
This post was updated Nov. 5 at 1:02 a.m. A coalition of 25 student organizations filed an amicus brief Thursday in support of a lawsuit against President Donald Trump that alleged research funding su...
dailybruin.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This kind of action is important for many reasons but in particular it demonstrates that students are self-motivated and exposes the lie of supposed indoctrination. Good luck brainwashing THESE folks.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Great read about Chicago’s growing resistance movement against Operation Midway Blitz. Story of community, solidarity, and empathy bringing the children of day laborers together with suburban moms. Gift link. By Andrew Carter @chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
Inside Chicago’s growing resistance movement against Operation Midway Blitz: ‘Small acts have huge consequences’
In Chicago, the resistance to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation mission has taken many forms. A movement has grown through acts large and small.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Great read about Chicago’s growing resistance movement against Operation Midway Blitz. Story of community, solidarity, and empathy bringing the children of day laborers together with suburban moms. Gift link. By Andrew Carter @chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Dems have the wind at our backs, America clearly knows the GOP owns the shutdown and inflation, and THIS is how Schumer makes the most of it? How about demanding the military leave blue cities and ICE stop terrorizing Americans? I can't with this guy anymore.
SCHUMER is on the floor now making this offer to end the shutdown:
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Dems have the wind at our backs, America clearly knows the GOP owns the shutdown and inflation, and THIS is how Schumer makes the most of it? How about demanding the military leave blue cities and ICE stop terrorizing Americans? I can't with this guy anymore.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
The Trump administration is now literally *fighting* to deny food to 42 million people, more than a third of them children.
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Trump administration is now literally *fighting* to deny food to 42 million people, more than a third of them children.
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Desiree Fields
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Excellent op-ed by environmental sociologist Eric Bond and Viktor Newby.
"We submitted FOIA requests to every Virginia locality we could identify w/ an existing, approved, or proposed data center. We found that... 25 out of a total of 31 localities have NDAs."
virginiamercury.com/2025/04/30/d...
"We submitted FOIA requests to every Virginia locality we could identify w/ an existing, approved, or proposed data center. We found that... 25 out of a total of 31 localities have NDAs."
virginiamercury.com/2025/04/30/d...
November 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Excellent op-ed by environmental sociologist Eric Bond and Viktor Newby.
"We submitted FOIA requests to every Virginia locality we could identify w/ an existing, approved, or proposed data center. We found that... 25 out of a total of 31 localities have NDAs."
virginiamercury.com/2025/04/30/d...
"We submitted FOIA requests to every Virginia locality we could identify w/ an existing, approved, or proposed data center. We found that... 25 out of a total of 31 localities have NDAs."
virginiamercury.com/2025/04/30/d...
Reposted by Desiree Fields
A haunted house but it’s just the country you live in trying to kill you.
November 1, 2025 at 2:08 AM
A haunted house but it’s just the country you live in trying to kill you.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Hard to overstate the lifeline this ruling offers in the face of Trump's calculated cruelty.
It will not only keep tens of millions—half of them kids—fed this month, but will also prevent the evictions and shutoffs that would have resulted from families being forced to pay for food out of pocket.
It will not only keep tens of millions—half of them kids—fed this month, but will also prevent the evictions and shutoffs that would have resulted from families being forced to pay for food out of pocket.
October 31, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Hard to overstate the lifeline this ruling offers in the face of Trump's calculated cruelty.
It will not only keep tens of millions—half of them kids—fed this month, but will also prevent the evictions and shutoffs that would have resulted from families being forced to pay for food out of pocket.
It will not only keep tens of millions—half of them kids—fed this month, but will also prevent the evictions and shutoffs that would have resulted from families being forced to pay for food out of pocket.
A kid at at my niece's (Spanish-English immersion) school costume parade was dressed in a National Guard costume, and that is a CHOICE their parents made to be intentionally provocative in a place that was just girding itself for an ICE surge last week.
October 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
A kid at at my niece's (Spanish-English immersion) school costume parade was dressed in a National Guard costume, and that is a CHOICE their parents made to be intentionally provocative in a place that was just girding itself for an ICE surge last week.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
we're bringing mesothelioma back folks, it's going to be better than ever before arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Trump’s swift demolition of East Wing may have launched asbestos plumes
There is no confirmation that the Trump admin. followed abatement processes.
arstechnica.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
we're bringing mesothelioma back folks, it's going to be better than ever before arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Yet another case of billionaire brain. Increasingly common these days, smh.
![Pop Base tweets: "Kim Kardashian said on ‘The Kardashians’ that she believes the moon landing was fake:
“They’re gonna say I’m crazy no matter what, but like, go to TikTok. See for yourself. […] There’s no gravity on the moon. Why is the flag blowing? The shoes that they have in the museum that they wore on the moon is a different print in the photos. Why are there no stars?”"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreickzwdynkak7r4lur6afktglm3gontqsq5r5c7jeewyecyd4dczla@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Yet another case of billionaire brain. Increasingly common these days, smh.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Trying to blame the Dems cutting off SNAP (while sitting on billons of available contingency funds) as his boss bulldozes the WH to build a ball room like Saddam's palace, sends $40 billion to bail out Argentines, and eats "gold adorned" brownies in Korea is not gonna work.
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Trying to blame the Dems cutting off SNAP (while sitting on billons of available contingency funds) as his boss bulldozes the WH to build a ball room like Saddam's palace, sends $40 billion to bail out Argentines, and eats "gold adorned" brownies in Korea is not gonna work.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
IMO democracy becomes impossible in the absence of any social or political norms against lying.
Kristi Noem: "No American citizens have been arrested or detained. We focus on those who are here illegally. And anything you would hear or report that would be different than that is simply not true and false reporting."
October 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
IMO democracy becomes impossible in the absence of any social or political norms against lying.
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Zohran Mamdani caught lying that he understood Plato’s allegory of the cave, yet when asked to explain it, he seemed to instead explain Baudrillard’s theory of Simulacra and Simulation where reality has been replaced by symbols and signs, which seems similar to Plato’s theory but is not the same
October 29, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Zohran Mamdani caught lying that he understood Plato’s allegory of the cave, yet when asked to explain it, he seemed to instead explain Baudrillard’s theory of Simulacra and Simulation where reality has been replaced by symbols and signs, which seems similar to Plato’s theory but is not the same
Seems fine
GOLDMAN DESK: “.. The market cap of NVDA (~$4.86 trn) is closing in on the market cap of the entire Industrials S&P500 GICS (~$4.89 trillion), composed of 79 companies.”
October 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Seems fine
Pretty sure I haven’t seen any news stories about Sam Altman, Marc Benioff, or Jensen Huang calling the president to get him to unlock SNAP benefits, or offering to fund CalFresh themselves. 🧐
Is anyone else uncomfortable that the only reason the Bay Area immigration enforcement surge was called off is because our tech overlords, who are happy to profit from state terror, balked at rolling out the red carpet for the regime's boots on the ground? www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Inside the Tech CEO Campaign to Stop Trump From Sending Troops to San Francisco
Sam Altman, Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff helped Mayor Daniel Lurie to persuade the president not to deploy the National Guard.
www.wsj.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Pretty sure I haven’t seen any news stories about Sam Altman, Marc Benioff, or Jensen Huang calling the president to get him to unlock SNAP benefits, or offering to fund CalFresh themselves. 🧐
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Check out "Fear of a Dead White Planet," co-edited by Geography Associate Professor Jake Kosek, now available to read for free! read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/3...
Fear of a Dead White Planet
Fear of a Dead White Planet asks: How does one study when the planet is on fire? The More Worlds Collective challenges the contemporary rush to planetary t
read.dukeupress.edu
October 28, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Check out "Fear of a Dead White Planet," co-edited by Geography Associate Professor Jake Kosek, now available to read for free! read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/3...
Reposted by Desiree Fields
Reply to some great comments on mine and Gavin Wood’s piece on #housing, the asset economy and a resurgence of rentier capitalism www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reply to Comments on the Edges of Owner Occupation versus Rentier Capitalism
This piece replies to some fine scholarship from the six commentators who have taken up the pen in response to our focus article. We hope our reply does them justice and invites others to join the ...
www.tandfonline.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Reply to some great comments on mine and Gavin Wood’s piece on #housing, the asset economy and a resurgence of rentier capitalism www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Desiree Fields
I've built a socioeconomic system that depends on everyone to do useful work and act ethically except the people at the top, who get unimaginable rewards for being antisocial frauds and criminals. And I think it will stand the test of time
October 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I've built a socioeconomic system that depends on everyone to do useful work and act ethically except the people at the top, who get unimaginable rewards for being antisocial frauds and criminals. And I think it will stand the test of time