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nerdpsyche.bsky.social
@nerdpsyche.bsky.social
2K followers 4.2K following 410 posts
“Any decent society has to be built on trust and love, and the intelligent use of information and feelings. Education involves being able to practice those things...to build a decent society that can be nonviolent.” ― Myles Horton
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nerdpsyche.bsky.social
"So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us."
Quote from the speech: "They want the people to fight amongst ourselves so that we remain distracted from the work of remaking a long-broken system. We refuse to let them dictate the rules of the game anymore. They can play by the same rules as the rest of us. Together, we will usher in a generation of change. And if we embrace this brave new course, rather than fleeing from it, we can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump; it’s how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up. We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks. We will stand alongside unions and expand labor protections because we know, just as Donald Trump does, that when working people have ironclad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed. New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us."
November 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "But even if they never created a single piece of art or simply existed, their life would not be a tragedy. There would still be joy. There would still be grace in their existence. Not because autistic people are naturally angelic, but because they are human beings with inherent value. Autistic people do have real challenges they need to be addressed. But Kennedy’s willful misreading of the data risks putting autistic people at a massive disadvantage. And he has a major platform as the nation’s top health official."
April 16, 2025 at 10:49 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of protesters, including students, professors and even the mayor of Cambridge, braved the cold to protest against the Trump administration’s threat to cut Harvard’s funding. At a packed park in Cambridge, Mass., home to Harvard’s campus, they called on the university to lead the charge against the government’s crackdown on higher education. 'Harvard possesses not just the resources to withstand the pressure,' said Mayor Denise Simmons of Cambridge, 'but the moral obligation to do so.'"
April 12, 2025 at 11:33 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "We need to do the mutual aid work to take care of each other, whether that's walking people home or coming up with contingency plans around travel. We need to be doing all that work but we also need to be building collective power. At the university level, a lot of people are rebuilding AAUP [American Association of University Professors] chapters, which is sort of the closest thing we have to an academic union for those of us who are not unionized. Everyone should be thinking about unionizing at this point, and so I think that we have to face this head-on; we have to go on the offensive. Above all, we have to take care of one another."
April 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Thanks for checking! It's at the link you posted—it looks like they updated the story about 3 hours ago.
Header from the article Text from the article
April 11, 2025 at 12:51 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "The paralysis reflects the broader mood of Trump’s second administration, in which he’s targeted and threatened to destroy institutions that cross him, including law firms, universities, and more. With his tight grip on Washington, Trump has faced no meaningful resistance to policies that are upending the global economy, tearing up America’s relationships with its closest allies and making deep, unilateral cuts to the federal government. Leaders have quickly learned that however harmful they think a Trump policy might be, publicly contradicting the president could be worse. Now with the Trump administration doubling down on tariffs and trying to sell the country on short-term pain for long-term gain, it’s unclear what the breaking point will be for officials and lobbyists representing the most-impacted constituencies. 'There is absolutely a sense that the administration is keeping a list, and no one on K Street wants to be on it,' said one executive at a trade group downtown."
April 7, 2025 at 3:10 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
A handful of other signs. Creative resistance was out in force:
Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "Feminists Against Fascism" Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "Maternal deaths in Texas increase 56% from 2019 to 2022. *Black women in Texas are 3x more likely to die from pregnancy." Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "Fire this Confederacy of Dunces NOW!" Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "STOP Playing Politics with MY Patients' LIVES," "SHAME!"
April 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
What a powerful day in D.C. This is what democracy looks like! #HandsOff
Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "First they came for the vulnerable and we said, Hell NO! Not on our watch." Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "We Have Not Loved Our Neighbors as Ourselves" Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "Don't Use My Judaism for Your Facism," "Stand Up for Free Speech and Universities," "Stop Hate" Protest sign at the Hands Off Rally on the National Mall, 4/5/25: "STOP ABDUCTING IMMIGRANTS"
April 6, 2025 at 1:54 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Another unfortunately timely read. Looking forward to checking out Douglass's book. It includes chapters on contemporary higher ed in the US, Hungary, Turkey, and Brazil, among other places.
Quote from the article: "Campus leaders at all types of institutions across the United States must reaffirm their core values and help people, both inside and outside of the academy, understand what is at stake for our democracy if officials escalate unwarranted governmental intrusion into higher education. In the process, we need to take seriously Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s enjoinder to “fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” In this age of polarization, partisanship, and disinformation, the ability to persuade others is more challenging than ever. It requires demonstrating genuine care and engendering trust by listening critically and with understanding to people with diverse perspectives. Without this act of good faith, it will be impossible to promote the realization of higher education’s full impact on society, and colleges and universities will lose the capacity to engage as social critics on issues that affect our students and our communities. As Trinity Washington University President Patricia McGuire, who is featured in this issue, reminded readers in an Inside Higher Ed interview following the election of President Donald Trump to his second term, the question is not whether higher education leaders have a moral obligation to speak out but rather how do “we use the levers at our disposal—which are education, learning, research, really good dialogue—to continue to challenge the American community, the American democracy, to live up to its ideals?”"
April 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
"[T]here could be no American history without African American history."
Quote from the article: "What might have happened at the Smithsonian “in recent years” to provoke such ire? The biggest development, by far, was the opening of the African American Museum in 2016. With its richly comprehensive exhibits, its striking modern architecture and its iconic location on the National Mall, the Smithsonian’s newest major museum quickly became one of its most popular, with 1.6 million visitors last year. Go there and you will see a crowd that looks like America — Black people, White people, Hispanics, Asian Americans, schoolchildren on a field trip, senior citizens on an outing from their retirement home. They appreciate, as Trump does not, that Black history is simply American history — put another way, that there could be no American history without African American history."
April 4, 2025 at 2:02 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "Which brings me back to my original point: There can’t be any secret agenda behind the Trump tariffs, because there’s nobody around Trump with the knowledge or independence to devise such an agenda. This is all about Trump’s gut feelings. A White House official told Politico that he likes the “shock and awe,” and that Each country needs to panic and call. … Trump wants to hear you grovel and say you’ll cut a deal. Since most of our trading partners aren’t in a groveling mood, trade war seems inevitable. You might imagine that Trump will back off if his tariff gambit goes as badly as seems likely. But I don’t think he will, because his team of sycophants will tell him things are going great."
April 2, 2025 at 9:09 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
A light blue book cover with the title 'Love In Action: Writings on Nonviolent Social Change,' by Thich Nhat Hanh (foreword by Daniel Berrigan) printed in yellow text. A photo of Hanh laying a flower at the base of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., sits in the middle of the page. Book summary from Plum Village Press: "Love in Action is a collection of over two decades of Thich Nhat Hanh’s writing on nonviolence, peace, and reconciliation. Reflecting on the devastation of war, he makes the strong argument that mindfulness, insight, and altruistic love are the only sustainable bases for political action. This timeless book is an important resource for those interested in social change."
March 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Important time to watch the pretexts they're using to try to dismantle longstanding unions
From the article: "Trump Moves to End Union Rights for Many Federal Workers What Happened: Trump signed an executive order banning collective bargaining for federal employees across 18 departments, including Homeland Security, Defense, EPA, HHS, and others. Agencies have been directed to terminate union agreements. Why It Matters: The move strips union rights from a broad swath of the federal workforce under the pretext of national security, even at agencies with no clear security role—marking a major blow to organized labor within government. Source: The Hill"
March 28, 2025 at 11:16 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
His public statements about his goal are themselves pretty revealing. He opposes attempts to redraw gerrymandered districts in WI (which would be likely to help the Democrats regain the House and rein in DOGE).

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Quote from the article: "“This is a very important race for many reasons,” Musk said. “The most consequential is that [it] will decide how congressional districts are drawn in Wisconsin, which if the other candidate wins, instead of Justice Schimel, then the Democrats will attempt to redraw the districts and cause Wisconsin to lose two Republican seats. In my opinion that’s the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the congressional majority is so razor-thin. It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place.” Musk’s fear is that the court, if it retains a progressive majority, will strike down the congressional lines that give Republicans a 6-2 advantage in the US House delegation. (Democrats have made similar claims.) The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave that map an F for partisan fairness, saying it had a “significant Republican advantage.” The court has yet to take up a lawsuit challenging the congressional map, but if they were to eventually strike it down, that could help Democrats retake the House, which would allow Democrats to scrutinize the unprecedented role Musk is playing in shredding the federal government, accessing sensitive personal information on millions of Americans, and the $38 billion in federal funding his businesses receive."
March 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
"The most beautiful thing about our resistance is that it is fueled by care....This care binds us together." 🦋
Quote from the zine: ""The most beautiful thing about our resistance is that it is fueled by care. Care about ourselves, our futures, our hearts, our minds. We care about those we're in direct relation with, despite differences in understanding, because our solutions will be somewhere in the middle of this. We care about those we will never know, propelled solely by the faith they would do the same for us. This care binds us together."
March 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
What defeats authoritarianism? Mass opposition. Effective opposition parties. The public rallying around decency and the rule of law.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, @sanders.senate.gov and @ocasio-cortez.house.gov. This is how it's done.
Quote from an outreach message: "On Saturday morning we had our last rally - in Tucson, Arizona. We were joined by Congressman Greg Casar from Texas -- the Chair of the House Progressive Caucus. It was a warm, beautiful day. We were planning on 8,000 to 10,000 people attending. We were wrong. Over 23,000 showed up at the high school football stadium. Bernie on the road So. What do these huge turnouts tell us? I think the answer is pretty clear. The American people do not want Trumpism. They do not want oligarchy. They do not want authoritarianism. They are tired of massive income and wealth inequality and the greed of the billionaire class. They are tired of a corrupt political system that allows billionaires in both parties to buy elections and leaves working people behind."
March 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
🧵. Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA)
Private university, est. 1921
Endowment: $38.2 million (2020)
Students: 4737 (n.d.)

43rd in Pell grant recipients. Qualifying families typically make <$50k and are facing restricted loan repayment, forgiveness options

www.usnews.com/best-college...
National universities ranked by percentage of students receiving a Pell Grant. Robert Morris University [RMU] in Moon Township, PA, is highlighted. Thirty percent of RMU students are reported as Pell Grant recipients.
March 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
🧵. Michigan State (East Lansing, MI)
Public land-grant research university, est. 1855
Endowment: $4.4 billion (2023)
Students: 52,089 (fall 2024)


“MSU, U-M and Wayne State used federal research dollars to employ 24,900 people in 2023"

www.freep.com/story/news/h...
Quote from the article: ""That federal money creates jobs," said Dr. Aron Sousa, the executive dean of the MSU's Health Colleges. "Those are people who pay rent or pay taxes or send their kids to school or shop in the local stores." The cities of Flint and Grand Rapids, he said, wanted the MSU College of Human Medicine to expand to their communities partially because of the economic boost it would bring, Sousa said."
March 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
🧵. Bryant University (Smithfield, RI)
Private university, est. 1863
Endowment: $232.6 million (2024)
Students: 3,751 (n.d.)
Space-grant university / RI Space Grant Consortium

www.providencejournal.com/story/news/l...
Quote from the article: ""Long-term consequences would result in consideration of shutting down research projects and labs and laying off staff, which will impact RI’s workforce," Jenkins testified. "Federally sponsored research is a critical function of the state’s public, flagship, land- and sea-grant university and serves as a major economic engine for URI and the State of Rhode Island," she said. As an example, Jenkins noted that URI leads a partnership of universities and colleges in the $21 million NIH-funded Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence program. The program is "a statewide network designed to build the biomedical research capacity of Rhode Island institutions, by supporting and developing talented individuals committed to biomedical research careers in Rhode Island particularly in areas of cancer, environmental health sciences, and neuroscience," she testified. URI's partners include Brown University, Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University and the Community College of Rhode Island. Jenkins referenced a recent study showing URI's "considerable" impact on Rhode Island's economy. In fiscal year 2019, URI, directly and indirectly, generated $824.6 million in statewide economic activity, supported 8,097 jobs, and provided $418.6 million in wages," Jenkins noted."
March 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the interview: "Q. Your poetry isn’t political in the traditional sense of the word, but it explores identity, the environment, femininity, motherhood, a sense of belonging. How do you feel about this sociopolitical moment in the world? A. We’re living in a very strange time in human history. It’s difficult to witness so many things, and not just the political division and mass atrocities of war, but also the fact that all of this is exponentially worse due to how rapidly our climate is changing. And we don’t seem to be waking up to solutions. On a deeply human level, it’s hard not to feel discouraged, not just by the state of the world, but by our own reactions to it. Poetry offers us a place for grief. And, in recent months, that’s what has brought me back to poetry: to grieve, to fully recognize where we are. To cry."
March 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
More civil rights cuts, this time targeting anyone with a disability
Quote from the article: "DOJ reduces ADA compliance guidance, pointing to Trump’s order What Happened: The Department of Justice removed 11 ADA compliance guidelines, cutting regulations for businesses, hospitals, and public accommodations under the guise of reducing costs. The move follows Trump’s January order aimed at deregulation, though it did not specifically target the Americans with Disabilities Act. Why It Matters: Disability advocates warn this will increase barriers in public spaces, reduce accessibility enforcement, and undermine civil rights protections. Source: The Hill"
March 21, 2025 at 10:03 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
The administration continues its full-scale attack on civil rights protections. Unfolding not only in education and business generally, but also the lucrative area of federal contracts.
Quote from the article: "Trump Removes Ban on ‘Segregated Facilities’ in Federal Contracts What Happened: Trump revoked a decades-old ban on segregated facilities—such as waiting rooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains—within federal contracts, according to a memo from the General Services Administration. The move follows Trump’s executive order rolling back civil rights protections, including equal employment policies from 1965. Why It Matters: This is a sickening rollback of civil rights, reversing fundamental anti-discrimination protections in government contracting. It signals a return to legal segregationist policies, directly undermining decades of progress in workplace equality and racial justice. Source: Reuters"
March 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Truly. I feel tremendous gratitude to everyone who's taking action, speaking out, refusing to turn away — in ways big and small. History reminds us that every act of conscience and care for others matters in times like these. It's the only way through.
Quote from the article: "I love you all— not in spite of but because care and solidarity are hard to come by these days. You are trying, my friends. You are trying even though the administration has vowed to punish their enemies. You are trying even though there is no real opposition party and all of the teachers at my kids’ public schools are a million times braver and more creative than the Senate majority leader. You are trying even though your lives are likely not set up for the act of trying. You were already too busy, too overwhelmed with demands on your time, long before you were asked to also resist the autocrats. You are trying even though we were told for months that there was no point in opposition. The resistance was passé. Wokeness was dead. Trump had a mandate. You are trying, because you didn’t listen. Thank God you didn’t listen."
March 18, 2025 at 4:31 PM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
Quote from the article: "If we fully lose democracy in this country, it will be because the most privileged among us refused to accept the responsibility to speak out, to say “no more,” and to lead. History will not kindly remember those who left it to Americans with considerably less power and protection, to do the hard work of saving this country. Your tax cuts will not be large enough to cover your shame. And we will remember."
March 17, 2025 at 3:44 AM
nerdpsyche.bsky.social
We are in trouble
Quote from the article: "Mike Johnson Admits Congress Is at Musk and Trump’s Mercy What Happened: House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged Elon Musk’s control over Congress, admitting that Musk can “blow the whole thing up” with a single post on X. Johnson described his job as speaker as a balancing act between managing House Republicans, Trump, and Musk—who holds unchecked power over the government. Why It Matters: The Speaker of the House openly acknowledged that Congress is no longer an independent branch of government— instead controlled by an unelected billionaire and an authoritarian president. Legislative decisions are no longer made by elected representatives but dictated by Trump and Musk, who wield their influence to dismantle federal agencies and manipulate policy for their agendas. Source: Politico"
March 13, 2025 at 9:27 AM