Rebecca M. Townsend
@rmtownsend.bsky.social
Deliberation, democracy & public engagement scholar #TeamRhetoric #Commsky politics in US & #CEE #transportation, public memory, Town Meeting. Lifter. Vlach/Aromanian #WMASS @TownModerator.bsky.social
Pinned
#BeyondTheColdWar Presidential Rhetoric in Central and Eastern Europe
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope
#teamrhetoric #CEE #CentralEasternEurope
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
NECHE Annual Meeting anyone?
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NECHE Annual Meeting anyone?
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
A longer, unpublished version of the new US National Security Strategy identifies Poland as a country the US should try to “pull away” from the EU, according to leaked excerpts.
It also calls for the US to support parties that “seek sovereignty and preservation of traditional European ways of life”
It also calls for the US to support parties that “seek sovereignty and preservation of traditional European ways of life”
Fuller version of Trump security strategy reportedly calls for "pulling Poland away from EU"
notesfrompoland.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:24 AM
A longer, unpublished version of the new US National Security Strategy identifies Poland as a country the US should try to “pull away” from the EU, according to leaked excerpts.
It also calls for the US to support parties that “seek sovereignty and preservation of traditional European ways of life”
It also calls for the US to support parties that “seek sovereignty and preservation of traditional European ways of life”
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
An earlier version of the NSS specifically said that the US should try to pry Italy, Austria, Poland and Hungary away from the EU
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
December 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
An earlier version of the NSS specifically said that the US should try to pry Italy, Austria, Poland and Hungary away from the EU
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
News you can use:
December 8, 2025 at 11:50 PM
News you can use:
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Most deaths of people walking are on suburban and rural arterials at night at unmarked crossings but urbanists rarely talk about this. Bike deaths per capita are also a suburban rural problem mostly. They also rarely want to talk about how to return N America to low housing multipliers.
Why?
Why?
December 9, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Most deaths of people walking are on suburban and rural arterials at night at unmarked crossings but urbanists rarely talk about this. Bike deaths per capita are also a suburban rural problem mostly. They also rarely want to talk about how to return N America to low housing multipliers.
Why?
Why?
NECHE Annual Meeting anyone?
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NECHE Annual Meeting anyone?
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Join me and Dr. Jennifer Borda discussing
"Civic Leadership As Career
Readiness: An Interactive
Exploration of Campus
Opportunities"
Wed, 12/10, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM ET
1 hour
Back Bay Ballroom AB
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Indie rock anthem “Mourners” by the Polish band Trupa Trupa has been ranked among the best songs of the year by Rolling Stone magazine.
December 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Indie rock anthem “Mourners” by the Polish band Trupa Trupa has been ranked among the best songs of the year by Rolling Stone magazine.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
A 🧵
How many newspaper Editorial Boards have called for Pres. Trump's impeachment (or resignation)?
As far as we know, only one: @sentinelcolorado.com
Our 2 part series: journalism, trust, press freedom & how a local newspaper serves its community-and democracy.
open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
How many newspaper Editorial Boards have called for Pres. Trump's impeachment (or resignation)?
As far as we know, only one: @sentinelcolorado.com
Our 2 part series: journalism, trust, press freedom & how a local newspaper serves its community-and democracy.
open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
First in the Nation: A Courageous Editorial Board Calls for Trump’s Impeachment
American Democracy is under siege. The President of the United States is subverting the Constitution. One patriotic Editorial Board rises to the moment.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A 🧵
How many newspaper Editorial Boards have called for Pres. Trump's impeachment (or resignation)?
As far as we know, only one: @sentinelcolorado.com
Our 2 part series: journalism, trust, press freedom & how a local newspaper serves its community-and democracy.
open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
How many newspaper Editorial Boards have called for Pres. Trump's impeachment (or resignation)?
As far as we know, only one: @sentinelcolorado.com
Our 2 part series: journalism, trust, press freedom & how a local newspaper serves its community-and democracy.
open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
The Financial Times finally covers the Network State cult.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
December 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Financial Times finally covers the Network State cult.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
This is a very important article that everyone needs to read.
This is a threat that affects... infects the whole world.
Please pass it along.
This is a threat that affects... infects the whole world.
Please pass it along.
I would say this because I edited it but @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social's piece on tech bros founding their own for-profit cities really is unmissable reading www.ft.com/content/b127...
Tech elites are starting their own for-profit cities
They want to escape from regulation and ‘failing’ democracy — but are they more opportunistic than libertarian?
www.ft.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This is a very important article that everyone needs to read.
This is a threat that affects... infects the whole world.
Please pass it along.
This is a threat that affects... infects the whole world.
Please pass it along.
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Musk is cosying up to the same oligarchs that banned his social media platform! I'd question if he had more sense, but, well, it's Elon Musk... #NAFO #RussiaIsATerroristState #NAFO #RussiaWillLose #SlavaUkraini #Ukraine #X #Telegram #Fellas #NAFOFellas #UkraineWillWin
December 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Musk is cosying up to the same oligarchs that banned his social media platform! I'd question if he had more sense, but, well, it's Elon Musk... #NAFO #RussiaIsATerroristState #NAFO #RussiaWillLose #SlavaUkraini #Ukraine #X #Telegram #Fellas #NAFOFellas #UkraineWillWin
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Based on the facts recounted by the Senator, the two do sound “shipwrecked” for LOAC purposes.
But they were never lawful targets in the first place even if LOAC applied.
And LOAC doesn’t apply because there is no armed conflict.
Term for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict is murder.
But they were never lawful targets in the first place even if LOAC applied.
And LOAC doesn’t apply because there is no armed conflict.
Term for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict is murder.
WELKER: Lawmakers say the 2 men appeared to raise their arms potentially to surrender. Why did Admiral Bradley interpret these actions as anything other than them trying to survive?
TOM COTTON: They were sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat. They weren't floating helplessly in the water
TOM COTTON: They were sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat. They weren't floating helplessly in the water
December 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Based on the facts recounted by the Senator, the two do sound “shipwrecked” for LOAC purposes.
But they were never lawful targets in the first place even if LOAC applied.
And LOAC doesn’t apply because there is no armed conflict.
Term for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict is murder.
But they were never lawful targets in the first place even if LOAC applied.
And LOAC doesn’t apply because there is no armed conflict.
Term for premeditated killing outside of armed conflict is murder.
Wholeheartedly recommend Tokarczuk's House of Day, House of Night.
Glad to see it get a recent review.
Glad to see it get a recent review.
Critic @coryoldweiler.bsky.social has read many books by Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk, so I was thrilled he reviewed a new edition of her older novel, HOUSE OF DAY, HOUSE OF NIGHT. In print in this Sunday's @bostonglobe.com and available to read digitally now! www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/03/a...
A new edition of an early Olga Tokarczuk novel is cause for celebration - The Boston Globe
Again and again her characters contend with the changing physical borders within which they and their families must live, in a world disrupted by war.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Wholeheartedly recommend Tokarczuk's House of Day, House of Night.
Glad to see it get a recent review.
Glad to see it get a recent review.
My spouse & I are UMass & IU grads, so our kids have grown up interested in the schools' sports teams.
Last night's AMAZING Indiana victory over Ohio State, winning the Big 10 Championships, is cause for much celebration for us all.
I'm not a lister. I don't list books or movies.
...
Last night's AMAZING Indiana victory over Ohio State, winning the Big 10 Championships, is cause for much celebration for us all.
I'm not a lister. I don't list books or movies.
...
December 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
My spouse & I are UMass & IU grads, so our kids have grown up interested in the schools' sports teams.
Last night's AMAZING Indiana victory over Ohio State, winning the Big 10 Championships, is cause for much celebration for us all.
I'm not a lister. I don't list books or movies.
...
Last night's AMAZING Indiana victory over Ohio State, winning the Big 10 Championships, is cause for much celebration for us all.
I'm not a lister. I don't list books or movies.
...
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
One of America's most authoritarian university presidents, a man who has stated repeatedly how much he wants to work with Trump & Vance on higher education, a man who banned chalking & land acknowledgements at OSU, just lost.
December 7, 2025 at 4:44 AM
One of America's most authoritarian university presidents, a man who has stated repeatedly how much he wants to work with Trump & Vance on higher education, a man who banned chalking & land acknowledgements at OSU, just lost.
Sleep well, Indiana HOOSIERS!
December 7, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Sleep well, Indiana HOOSIERS!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Mendoza!! (The Simpsons)
YouTube video by ThingsICantFindOtherwise
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Congratulations to Indiana, for your win over a school with close connections to these four men. A nation thanks you.
December 7, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Yay Hoosiers!!!
December 7, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Yay Hoosiers!!!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Yay Hoosiers!!!
December 7, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Yay Hoosiers!!!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Congratulations Indiana!!!
December 7, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Congratulations Indiana!!!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Yay Hoosiers!!!
December 7, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Yay Hoosiers!!!
Reposted by Rebecca M. Townsend
Amazing!!! Congratulations to everyone associated with Indiana University & everyone who's ever rooted for them. One of the most amazing championships in any sport ever.
December 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Amazing!!! Congratulations to everyone associated with Indiana University & everyone who's ever rooted for them. One of the most amazing championships in any sport ever.