Thomas M. Keck
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tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Thomas M. Keck
@tmksyracuse.bsky.social
7.7K followers 3.1K following 1.3K posts
Mostly free speech and democratic backsliding. Also Syracuse politics and Baltimore sports.
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tmksyracuse.bsky.social
#19
Hadn’t read this one in a few years. This time I did it mostly on the Pete Cross audio book, which I highly recommend. I feel like I can make sense of Melville’s prose better by listening than by reading? Loved it as always, and the end is so intense
Image of audio book for Moby Dick “I turn my body from the sun. What ho, Tashtego! let me hear thy hammer. Oh! ye three unsurrendered spires of mine; thou uncracked keel; and only god-bullied hull; thou firm deck, and haughty helm, and Pole-pointed prow,—death-glorious ship! must ye then perish, and without me? Am I cut off from the last fond pride of meanest shipwrecked captains? Oh, lonely death on lonely life! Oh, now I feel my topmost greatness lies in my topmost grief. Ho, ho! from all your furthest bounds, pour ye now in, ye bold billows of my whole foregone life, and top this one piled comber of my death! Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! THUS, I give up the spear!”
November 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
It’s confirmed y’all. This is not gonna get national headlines but trust me when I tell you that this is huge here in CNY. And nobody saw it coming
Headline: Democrats flip Onondaga County Legislature for first time in 50 years
November 5, 2025 at 5:03 AM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Looks like we’re finally getting our first Black mayor in Syracuse
Early results showing Sharon Owens with 73% of the vote
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Syracuse Post-Standard
100,000 in CNY will lose food stamp benefits today
November 1, 2025 at 8:01 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
But while democratic backsliding is clearly associated with erosion of effective protections for speech, press, and academic freedom, it’s also associated with spikes in extremist speech.

This complicates the efforts of democracy supporters (including judges) to maintain the guardrails
Warning sign number 7: An authoritarian vilifies marginalized groups Authoritarians tend to demean minority groups, trying to turn them into a perceived threat that provides a justification for a leader to amass power. Mr. Trump has repeatedly suggested that marginalized groups are responsible for the nation’s problems. Immigrants have topped his list. Mr. Trump has blamed them for destroying communities and his administration has tried to dehumanize them by posting mocking videos of shackled immigrants. In response, many Latinos have stopped speaking Spanish in public and started carrying their passports to prove citizenship. He has vilified transgender Americans and barred them from military service. He has fired women and people of color from leadership posts and ended programs that promote workplace diversity. His administration has attempted to erase aspects of Black history, including by removing books on slavery and segregation from military libraries and pressuring Smithsonian museums to minimize those subjects. At the same time, he has suggested that white people and Christians are victims, which echoes the autocratic habit of claiming that majority groups are in fact oppressed.
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
3 of the Times’ 12 warning signs are about free speech or free speech adjacent. Guardrails for dissent, independent media, and universities haven’t fully collapsed, but they’re wavering for sure
Warning sign number 1: An authoritarian stifles dissent and speech Warning sign number 8: An authoritarian controls information ands the news media Warning sign number 9: An authoritarian tries to take over universities
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
#18
Continuing with the Poppy Wars series. The Dragon Republic was unrelentingly grim, but I’m sucked in now. Will definitely continue with the series but may look for something lighter first
Cover photo of Kuang’s The Dragon Republic
October 21, 2025 at 3:11 AM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
I’m ready
Two protest signs: No Kings Except Drag Kings
October 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Actually, having read further, the authors seem to say that Trump's compact is "incompatible with the self-determination that colleges and universities must enjoy if they are to pursue their mission as truth-seeking institutions" and that it ALSO violates core principles of academic freedom
screenshot of third paragraph with this text highlighted: Furthermore, we believe that certain aspects of the compact violate core principles of academic freedom. screenshot of final paragraph with this text highlighted: governments must strictly respect the legitimate autonomy of colleges and the academic freedom of their faculty and students.
October 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Admirably clear statement from politically diverse set of scholars that Trump's compact for higher education violates fundamental principles of institutional autonomy that are core components of academic freedom www.chronicle.com/article/our-...
Screenshot of opening paragraphs of article: e write as scholars of academic freedom to respond to the proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” We are politically diverse and do not share common views about the wisdom of particular proposals contained in the compact. Nor do we agree on the extent or substance of the reforms needed in American higher education today. We are, however, united in our concern about key features of the proposed compact. The compact’s demands that universities and colleges eschew foreign students with “anti-American values” and that they impose a politically determined diversity within departments and other institutional units are incompatible with the self-determination that colleges and universities must enjoy if they are to pursue their mission as truth-seeking institutions. So also is the compact’s demand that universities and colleges select their students only on the basis of “objective” and “standardized” criteria. Colleges may of course voluntarily elect exclusively to deploy objective criteria (such as standardized-test scores and high-school or college grade-point averages), but these standards should not be imposed on institutions which, operating within the law, wish to include consideration of nonquantifiable criteria in selecting students.
October 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
That. And also, this doesn’t look like just liberals in blue cities
Screenshot of national map of No Kings protests
October 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Like this is just completely divorced from reality, right? My campus is one of many that have canceled pro-Palestinian events due to alleged security concerns

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/o...
Highlighted text in screenshot: Students who object to policies of the Trump administration or oppose Israel's war in Gaza or who advocate abortion rights rarely have to worry that their campus speakers will be disrupted by protesters or generate security concerns related to the backlash of a student mob.
October 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
I should note here that the source of the problem is Utah's egregious anti-DEI law, which has left campus administrators with few good options in these circumstances
screenshot of this passage from the article linked in original post: In a note to conference presenters and volunteers last week, Vice President for Student Access and Success Jessica Oyler explained that Unity Conference programming could not discuss what HB 261 defines as “prohibited discriminatory practice,” including “claiming that sociopolitical structures are inherently power struggles between groups, or suggesting that individuals are inherently privileged, oppressed, racist, sexist, or victims based on personal identity characteristics.”
October 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Judge Young also finds that the chilling effect was amplified by the gratuitously terrifying ways in which the immigration detentions were conducted. (And yes, I'm still making my way through this opinion from last week)
screenshot of judicial opinion with highlighted text: "... but also by the manner in which these arrests, detentions, and revocations have been conducted: by often-masked agents, without prior notice of visa revocation or altered status, sometimes on the street or at immigration appointments, followed by conveyance quickly out of district and across the country." another screenshot of judicial opinion, featuring this passage: "Or why, having observed the first arrests that were made under this policy and seen that these arrests by these agents involved an obvious, highly publicized atmosphere of secrecy and fright, the Public Officials responsible for it did not adjust the policy to make the arrests less obviously chilling? Or why the members of the inter-agency advisory council whom the Public Officials will not name, did not adjust the policy to make the arrests less obviously chilling?" third screenshot: "this Court must draw the most reasonable inference: that the manner and method of their execution was adopted, or at least approved of once the first such arrest had been made, in part intentionally to chill the speech of other would be pro-Palestine and anti-Israel speakers, including Plaintiffs’ noncitizen members."
October 7, 2025 at 12:43 AM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Judge Young's opinion also does a nice job of laying out the concrete chilling effect of the administration's policies on students and faculty engaged in pro-Palestinian teaching and research
screenshot of judicial opinion with this text highlighted: Trump that Khalil’s arrest would be one of “many,” led her to alter international travel plans and to contact an immigration lawyer to track her travel abroad, to decline a public-facing leadership opportunity that might have more firmly associated her with pro-Palestine human rights advocacy, to cease her previous practice of signing open letters related to these issues, to forego specific research projects. highlighted text: Professor Megan Hysaka, an AAUP member and lawful permanent resident, has previously published a paper discussing media treatment of the Israel-Palestine conflict, regularly attended pro-Palestine protests including student encampments, and signed an open letter in support of pro-Palestine student protests. Trial Tr. vol. I, 36:1-5, 36:18-19, 55:9-16, Jul. 7, 2025. Now, in response to the arrests and several social media posts by the Public Officials, she has cut back on these activities and, among other things, refrained from publishing a specific op-ed that she drafted in response to Öztürk’s arrest, out of fear that the enforcement policy would be applied to her in the same way that it was to Öztürk.
October 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Kicking off now
Photo of Bouie and Mickey on stage
October 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Looking forward to this conversation with @jamellebouie.net and @robmickey.bsky.social, getting started soon here at the Maxwell School
Photo of event flyer
October 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Judge Young has a footnote questioning the widespread use of masks by agents undertaking immigration enforcement actions
Text of footnote 29: Even crediting this concern, whether intentional or not, images of plain-clothed, masked federal agents –- faceless agents of the federal government –- snatching a non-violent person off the streets of Boston has caused fear in citizens and non-citizens alike. While there are of course occasions when obscuring identities of agents is necessary, law enforcement in the United States has usually been performed in the open. Days after the trial, Defendant Todd Lyons stated in an interview that he is “not a proponent of the masks,” but permits mask wearing because he is concerned about agents’ safety.
October 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Judge Young also quotes from this wild NPR interview with Deputy Sec. Edgar.

Edgar repeatedly describes Mahmoud Khalil as a terrorist & Hamas supporter, repeatedly refuses to answer direct questions about _what Khalil actually did_, then resorts to Kavanaugh-level attacks against the questioner
Edgar: Well, like I said, when you apply for a visa, you go through the process to be able to say that you're here on a student visa, that doesn't afford you all the rights of coming in and basically going through this process, agitating and supporting Hamas. So, at this point, yeah, the Secretary of State and the State Department maintains the right to revoke the visa, and that's what they've done. Martin: How did he support Hamas? Exactly what did he do? Edgar: Well, I think you can see it on TV, right? This is somebody that we've invited and allowed the student to come into the country, and he's put himself in the middle of the process of basically proPalestinian activity. And at this point, like I said, the Secretary of State can review his visa process at any point and revoke it. Martin: He's a permanent resident. He's not a visa holder. He's a legal permanent resident. He has the green card, at least he did, until it's alleged that it was revoked. If the allegation is that Mr. Khalil organized protests and made speeches after which other people engaged in prohibited activity, or, say, violent activity. Well, Mr. Trump gave a political speech on January 6, 2021, after which some individuals engaged in violent and illegal acts. How is this any different? Edgar: President Trump's a citizen and the president of the United States. This is a person that came in under a visa. And again, the secretary of state at any point can take a look and evaluate that visa and decide if they want to revoke it. Martin: He's a legal permanent resident. I have to keep insisting on that. He is a legal permanent resident. So what is the standard? Is any criticism of the Israeli government a deportable offense? Edgar: Like I said, I think that at this point when he entered into the country on a student visa, at any point we can go through and evaluate what his status is. Martin: Is any criticism of the United States government a deportable offense? Edgar: Like I said, if you go through the process and you're a student and you're here on a visa and you go through it, at any point . . . . Martin: Is any criticism of the government a deportable offense? Edgar: Let me put it this way, Michel, imagine if he came in and filled out the form and said, “I want a student visa.” They asked him, “What are you going to do here?” And he says, “I'm going to go and protest.” We would have never let him into the country. Martin: Is protesting a deportable offense? Edgar: You're focused on protests. I'm focused on the visa process. He went through a legal process . . . . Martin: Are you saying he lied on his application? He's a lawful permanent resident, married to an American citizen. Edgar: I think if he would have declared he's a terrorist, we would have never let him in. Case 1:25-cv-10685-WGY Document 261 Filed 09/30/25 Page 47 of 161 [48] Martin: And what did he engage in that constitutes terrorist activity? Edgar: I mean, Michel, have you watched it on TV? It's pretty clear. Michel: No, it isn't. Well, explain it to those of us who have not or perhaps others have not. What exactly did you do? Edgar: Well, I think it's clear or we wouldn't be talking about it. I mean, the reality is that if you watch and see what he's done on the university Edgar: Well, I think it's clear or we wouldn't be talking about it. I mean, the reality is that if you watch and see what he's done on the university . . . . Martin: Do you not know? Are you telling us that you're not aware? Edgar: I find it interesting that you're not aware. Martin: I think you could explain it to us. I think others would like to know exactly what the offenses are, what the propaganda was that you allege, what the activity was that you allege. Well, perhaps we can talk again and you can give us more details about this. We really appreciate your coming to join us, and we do hope we'll talk again. Edgar: Thank you. March 12, 2025 Interview, NPR, (emphasis added), Ex. 29, Stipulation No. 7.
October 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Among other things, Judge Young finds that DHS pulled agents off of various counter-intelligence duties to review 5,000 names listed on Canary Mission
screenshot of judicial opinion with highlighted text: Due to the workload, the requirement to review all 5,000 individuals on the Canary Mission Website, the assembly of the Tiger Team required analysts be taken off of the “Counterintelligence Unit, the Counterterrorism Intelligence Unit, from the Cyber Intelligence Unit, from the Global Trade Intelligence Unit, from all different parts of HSI intelligence.”
September 30, 2025 at 5:36 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
Highlighted text from Gay’s piece: “We are at such a dangerous and delicate moment in American history. The onus is on all of us to reject the fantasy of civility in favor of repair.”
September 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
lol
Screenshot of Encanto spoof with lyric “We don’t talk about Jeffrey”
September 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
This part is my favorite
“The libertarian newcomers additionally increased the town's costs by filing lawsuits against it in attempts to set various legal precedents.”
September 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
I suppose it goes without saying that this statement from the Academic Freedom Alliance doesn’t mention Kirk’s Professor Watchlist
“Mr Kirk was killed in the context of a university forum for the robust exchange of ideas and arguments—something to which he had personally dedicated himself.”
September 15, 2025 at 4:54 PM
tmksyracuse.bsky.social
I just signed with Cambridge for my book on free speech and democratic backsliding. I guess this thing is really happening.

I just have to update the chapters on Brazil and the US. That should be pretty quick, right?
Screenshot of top of my book contract
September 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM