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Erol Akçay

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H-index: 29
Biology 27%
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by Jacob T. Levy — Reposted by Erol Akçay, Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders , and 11 more

jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Brown rejected the compact!

www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
www.brown.edu
37 430 3.1K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Jon Green, Sanford F. Schram , and 3 more

atrupar.com
JD Vance dismisses Young Republicans who in a group chat said "I love Hitler" and joked about slavery and rape as "a bunch of kids" who "told stupid jokes" and adds that "most of the stupid things I did when I was a teenager and young adult, they're not on the internet."
450 330 1.1K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Tom Clark, Scott Lucas , and 6 more

originalsp.in
ICE arrested comedian Robby Roadsteamer for singing a parody of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” in a Jeffrey Epstein the Giraffe costume outside their facility.

He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.
120 1.4K 2.7K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Eric Goldman, Sanford F. Schram , and 3 more

originalsp.in
A musician, Oriana Korol, was peacefully playing clarinet with her protest band outside ICE facilities in Portland, OR.

When the band started playing “Ghostbusters,” ICE thugs suddenly poured outside, slammed her into the mud, arrested her and took her to a jail 9 miles away in Vancouver, WA.
Musician playing ‘Ghostbusters’ outside ICE facility is arrested by agents
‘Taking us citizens out of state to detain them without charge is a new action from the Feds and should be opposed,’ her band said
www.independent.co.uk
33 670 1.2K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Aaron Sojourner

bbkogan.bsky.social
Three senior Republican appropriators agree it doesn't make any sense for Democrats to agree to a government funding deal unless Trump actually adheres to the deal.

The Democratic alternative CR has language that would begin to address this, but Trump and Vought are completely opposed.
"If you're a Democrat - even just like a mainstream Democrat - your predisposition might be to help negotiate with Republicans on a funding mechanism," said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior GOP appropriator. "Why would you do that if you know that whatever you negotiate is going to be subject to the knife pulled out by Russ Vought?" "I don't think the Democrats want to shut down either," Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), a senior appropriator, told Bloomberg Government. "Their concern right now, and it's a legitimate concern, is that, how can we agree to any deal when our OMB director will just impound the funds and say we're not going to spend them there?" Julie Tsirkin @news_jul •1h MURKOWSKI blames Russ Vought for making it harder to negotiate shutdown end: "The appropriations process is being run over, and that, to me, is absolutely unacceptable." She understands why Democrats don't trust them given Vought's rescissions and layoffs. "Why would you?"
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by Erol Akçay

akcay.theoretical.bio
Tweeenty pages (at least).
a bald man in a gray suit is sitting in a chair and making a face .
Alt: The shot from Austin Powers movie where the villain says 1 million dollars not realizing that is not even close to a world shattering amount, similar to Murray thinking a 20-page (at least!!!) “techical article” is something formidable.
media.tenor.com
5

by Erol Akçay

akcay.theoretical.bio
😂😂😂
Screencap from the Turkheimer article reading: “In our email exchange, Murray said that any argument I'd lay out here would be insufficient to make this case. "We're not talking about something that lends itself to 1,500 words, or 3,000 for that matter, written for a lay audience, but a 20-page (at least) technical presentation," he wrote. (He did not respond to an invitation to elaborate on this, or respond to the argument made in this piece.) Certainly …”
1 6 29

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Michael D. McDonald

wsj.com
Ahead of a cryptocurrency selloff, two accounts placed bets against the market minutes before tariff news broke and scored $160 million
A Historic Crypto Selloff Erased Over $19 Billion, but Two Accounts Made $160 Million
Ahead of the selloff, two accounts on Hyperliquid placed massive bets that bitcoin and ether would fall.
on.wsj.com
13 46 82

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Scott L. Greer, Daniel W. Drezner , and 8 more

crampell.bsky.social
Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)
92 1.6K 3.5K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Kimberly A. Prather, Will Jennings , and 11 more

sarapartridge.bsky.social
There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.
270 2.6K 5.4K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Rosemary A. Joyce, David Darmofal

darthbluesky.bsky.social
that johnson is more terrified of seating a duly elected democrat who could force an epstein vote than having the entire government shut down really makes me wonder about that epstein vote tbh
84 1.2K 5.4K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Scott L. Greer, Christian E. Weller , and 7 more

bbkogan.bsky.social
Three key points:
1) The admin has been planning mass firings to begin in October since February
2) The work necessary to carry out mass firings is illegal during a shutdown, violating the Antideficiency Act, which carries a criminal penalty
3) This harms America, ridding us of talent and expertise
Russ Vought v @russvought The RIFs have begun. 12:27 PM • 10/10/25 • 15K Views
230 2.4K 6.2K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Joanne Spetz, Manisha Sinha

chanda.blacksky.app
MIT President Sally Kornbluth just issued a statement to the campus community saying NO to Trump’s authoritarian compact

“And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”
Dear Madam Secretary, I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters. I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education. As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples: • MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions. • MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%. • We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree. These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law. The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone. In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that tree marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education. As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation. Sincerely, Sally Kornbluth CC Ms. May Mailman Mr. Vincent Haley
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Reposted by Erol Akçay, Anne Applebaum, Anna O. Law , and 9 more

byjoshmoody.bsky.social
MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart
orgchart.mit.edu
34 490 1.9K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Dorothy Bishop, Gavin A. Schmidt , and 2 more

luckytran.com
🎵 They did the Monster Slash 😭 @ellecordova.bsky.social
12 400 870

by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by Erol Akçay, Linda J. Skitka, Efrén O. Pérez , and 2 more

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Resistance to authoritarianism is a coordination game. That's why universities and law firms and nonprofits can't let themselves be picked off one by one. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.
www.nytimes.com
1 29 93

by Erol Akçay

akcay.theoretical.bio
Most chromosomes of any animal on Earth so far!
1 7 37

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Lisa W. Fazio, Rebecca Sear , and 2 more

jeremymberg.bsky.social
I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.

Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

1/14
jeremymberg.github.io
14 160 300

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Anna O. Law, Tom Clark , and 13 more

kyledcheney.bsky.social
A WILD ONE: A man broke his leg during an arrest by ICE at a car wash south of L.A.

ICE has held him under 24/7 guard at a hospital, registering him under a pseudonym, for *37 days* without telling him why.

A judge has ordered his immediate release.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
560 8.4K 23K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law , and 9 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
If a federal judge, appointed by Trump, can call him “simply untethered to facts,” our White House press corps can as well.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In sum, the President is certainly entitled "a great level of deference," Newsom II, 141 F.4th at 1048, in his determination that he "is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." 10 U.S.C. § 12406(3). But "a great level of deference" is not equivalent to ignoring the facts on the ground. As the Ninth Circuit articulated, courts must "review the President's determination to ensure that it reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law PAGE 22 - OPINION AND ORDER Case 3:25-cv-01756-IM Document 56 Filed 10/04/25 Page 23 of 31 within a 'range of honest judgment.'" Id. at 1051 (quoting Sterling, 278 U.S. at 399). Here, this Court concludes that the President did not have a "colorable basis" to invoke § 12406(3) to federalize the National Guard because the situation on the ground belied an inability of federal law enforcement officers to execute federal law. Id. at 1051-52. The President's determination was simply untethered to the facts. c. Whether there is a Rebellion or Danger of Rebellion Defendants also aroue that the Sentember 28 2025 federalization order is authorized
78 1.7K 5.5K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Kori Schake, Anna O. Law , and 22 more

govpritzker.illinois.gov
This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.
1.5K 7.4K 24K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Colin F. Camerer, Will Jennings , and 11 more

oregonian.com
Federal officer blasts chemical spray into vocal but nonviolent Portland protester, video shows

The interaction illustrates how federal law enforcement officers do use aggressive tactics against protesters who yell and needle officers but don’t appear to present clear physical threats.
440 3.4K 6.3K

Reposted by Erol Akçay

tomtmwolf.bsky.social
BREAKING -- 1st Cir. says Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship REMAINS BLOCKED.

Opinion includes a helpful TL;DR:

Don't mistake the length of our answer for the existence of a real question. Birthright citizenship is broad-based and it's sacred. @brennancenter.org
1 31 87

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Robert Apel, Dan Immergluck

fishkin.bsky.social
News coverage of the Trump administration's proposed "compact" with universities has been, so far, shockingly bad.

I hate to pick on NPR reporter Elissa Nadworny, who's usually a solid reporter, but almost every important thing I heard her say this morning about the proposed "compact" was false.
2 99 300

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Erich Fromm, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 8 more

phillewis.bsky.social
Bari Weiss is set to be named the editor in chief of CBS News, the New York Post reports
Paramount Skydance is poised to name Bari Weiss as editor in chief of CBS News in the coming days — giving the hard-charging journalist unusual clout to revamp the struggling network as it also acquires her scrappy news site the Free Press, The Post has learned. Weiss — a 41-year-old former New York Times opinion writer who has built the Free Press into a buzzworthy site with a contrarian bent — is expected to be named to the top post in a Monday announcement, although the talks are in flux and the timing could change, a source close to the situation said.
380 180 810

Reposted by Erol Akçay, David Lazer, Scott L. Greer , and 9 more

aaup.org
The Trump admin’s offer to give preferential treatment to institutions that toe the party line reeks of bribery in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological agenda.

This is corruption.

Adherence to ‘loyalty oaths’ would usher in a new era of thought policing in American higher education.
Universities Must Reject Trump Admin 'Loyalty Oath' Compacts
The AAUP and AFT warn that the Trump administration’s offer to give preferential treatment to colleges and universities that court government favor in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological...
www.aaup.org
3 260 470

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Richard S.J. Tol, Will Jennings , and 4 more

ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
All blue states. What a surprise. I guess all we can do is vote out every single Republican candidate for every office in those states since none of them will speak up or do anything. And the Appropriations Chair Susan Collins.
260 1K 3.1K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Michael E. Mann, Peter Murphy , and 2 more

briantylercohen.bsky.social
Priorities.
1.3K 8.5K 18K

Reposted by Erol Akçay, Brendan Nyhan, David R. Miller , and 2 more

donmoyn.bsky.social
We are now in the domain of not just illegal impoundments, but targeted illegal impoundments to punish liberal spaces. Not different from what Trump is doing to to universities.
ndhapple.bsky.social
City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 14d
OMB Director Russell Voight says that US DOT will announce that the federal government is "pausing" funding for both Gateway and the Second Avenue Subway because of "unconstitutional DEI principles" -- x.com/russvought/s...
Voight's tweet
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Reposted by Erol Akçay

charlesgaba.com
📣 OK, with ~3 hours to go before the midnight government shutdown, I'm going to go through ALL 50 STATES +DC ONE BY ONE to remind everyone of how many Americans healthcare Democrats are fighting to save (and this is just #ACA exchange enrollees; don't forget about Medicaid).

Please bear with me.
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