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Michael A. Clemens

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Michael Andrew Clemens is an American economist who studies international migration and global economic development.

Source: Wikipedia
Michael A. Clemens
H-index: 43
Economics 40%
Sociology 24%
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by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
This is an abomination. A key tool that Turkey’s dictatorship used to seize absolute control was to pervert the tax enforcement system into a weapon against dissenting firms and foundations.

Our once world-leading US institutions, once poisoned, will not recover for a very long time.
justinhendrix.bsky.social
Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 4h
"A senior IRS official involved in the effort has drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors, some of the people said."
Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups
The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.
www.wsj.com
10 25

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Nathan P. Kalmoe

justinhendrix.bsky.social
"A senior IRS official involved in the effort has drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors, some of the people said."
Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups
The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.
www.wsj.com
4 20 45

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
This lawless rampage must stop. Congress has the duty to stop it. Now.
grahamsteele.bsky.social
graham steele @grahamsteele.bsky.social · 5h
Congress created the CFPB by law and only Congress can “close down” the CFPB.

Russell Vought simply does not have the legal authority to do this.
reuters.com
Reuters @reuters.com · 12h
White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers reut.rs/4qjMIyT
2 26

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

grahamsteele.bsky.social
Congress created the CFPB by law and only Congress can “close down” the CFPB.

Russell Vought simply does not have the legal authority to do this.
reuters.com
Reuters @reuters.com · 12h
White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers reut.rs/4qjMIyT
White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers
White House budget director Russell Vought said he wants to close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and expects to do so within the next two to three months.
reut.rs
7 37 160

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
This amicus brief is really a superb, data-based analysis by @davidjbier.bsky.social and his colleagues. Facts do and always will matter, and the facts are here. The US Administration’s justifications for its border policy diktat are baseless.
davidjbier.bsky.social
David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 17h
First of all, the decline in border arrests since January was the continuation of a trend, not a break in trend. Trump DOJ is misleading courts by comparing illegal immigration in 2023 to illegal immigration in 2025
1 6

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
The only thing that distinguishes the American republic from a dictatorship is our Congress’s duty to take action against an Executive that violates its laws.

When that is gone, all else is gone.

We Conservative and Liberal Americans need our Constitution and we demand that it be defended.
6 19

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
This thread should be read by every thoughtful American.

Since meaningful oversight has vanished, the Administration is shattering laws designed to enforce Congress’s checks/balances vs. the President.

Americans need the institutions that are being recklessly sledgehammered.
bbkogan.bsky.social
Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 11h
Under the Constitution and under the ADA, it is illegal to spend money without funding for that purpose. The president may not spend money to do something unless there's actually money to carry it out and that action is expressly allowed.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C7-1/ALDE_00001095/
1 9 29

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
Exactly. We have a process in the United States for improving policy and reaching broad acceptance.

It’s called legislation and it’s why Congress exists. That process insures us against many obviously stupid policies like this one.

Policy by extortionate diktat is poison to the rule of law.
lilymasonphd.bsky.social
Lily Mason @lilymasonphd.bsky.social · 10h
This “deal” is impossible to sign. You have to promise to protect freedom of speech and also to prohibit faculty from “belittling conservative ideas.” There is no way to comply.
nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 11h
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
5 15

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, David R. Miller

lilymasonphd.bsky.social
This “deal” is impossible to sign. You have to promise to protect freedom of speech and also to prohibit faculty from “belittling conservative ideas.” There is no way to comply.
nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 11h
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
Brown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment
Brown was the second university to turn down the deal, which would have given a funding preference to universities that agreed to certain requirements.
nyti.ms
9 40 180

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
Selecting US immigrants based on their race, or on their (Left or Right) political views, is illegal and a betrayal.

Our refugee program is an expression of our humanitarian values and, for many sponsors, a profound expression of their faith. It is not a plaything for ethno-nationalist extremists.
Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People
www.nytimes.com
1 11 25

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
Those who seek regulatory reform for higher education can do so through constitutional means. They’re called laws.

Arbitrary extortion is not how we make policy in the American republic.
jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 11h
Brown rejected the compact!

www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
www.brown.edu
3 27

by Jacob T. Levy — Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Ben H. Ansell, Elizabeth Saunders , and 12 more

jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Brown rejected the compact!

www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
www.brown.edu
42 510 3.8K

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

bbkogan.bsky.social
Under the Constitution and under the ADA, it is illegal to spend money without funding for that purpose. The president may not spend money to do something unless there's actually money to carry it out and that action is expressly allowed.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C7-1/ALDE_00001095/
6 150 930

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
Dissent is not "hate". Dissent against any Liberal or Conservative government is protected as a sacred right by our Constitution.

Holding demonstrations of dissent is precisely "standing and defending the foundational truths of this republic".

Treating dissenters as terrorists is the opposite.
atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h
Johnson: "We call it the Hate America Rally that will happen Saturday. Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you you'll see Hamas supporters, I bet you'll see antifa types, I bet you'll see Marxists on full display, people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic"
5 23

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Steven S. Smith, Eric Goldman , and 6 more

atrupar.com
Johnson: "We call it the Hate America Rally that will happen Saturday. Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you you'll see Hamas supporters, I bet you'll see antifa types, I bet you'll see Marxists on full display, people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic"
970 220 1.1K

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

davidjbier.bsky.social
First of all, the decline in border arrests since January was the continuation of a trend, not a break in trend. Trump DOJ is misleading courts by comparing illegal immigration in 2023 to illegal immigration in 2025
1 9 21

by Jason Lyall — Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Jason Lyall

jaylyall.bsky.social
These strikes are illegal for about 7 reasons:
1. Not self-defense
2. No (or any) Congressional authorization
3. No evidence of criminal wrongdoing
4. Occurred in int'l waters
5. No open state of hostilities
6. Criminal groups are not terrorists legally
7. No id on people killed or group targeted
U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says
www.nytimes.com
26 200 520

by Michael A. Clemens — Reposted by Aaron Sojourner

mclem.org
The US Administration has done zero impact analysis to consider how the lightspeed evisceration of our public health system will affect the health of American families.
wired.com
WIRED @wired.com · 1d
Another round of terminations, combined with previous layoffs and departures, has reduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce by about 3,000 people since January. www.wired.com/story/cdc-te...
A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone
Another round of terminations, combined with previous layoffs and departures, has reduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce by about 3,000 people since January.
www.wired.com
24 52

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Raffaella Ravinetto

wired.com
Another round of terminations, combined with previous layoffs and departures, has reduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce by about 3,000 people since January. www.wired.com/story/cdc-te...
A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone
Another round of terminations, combined with previous layoffs and departures, has reduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce by about 3,000 people since January.
www.wired.com
26 210 420

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Nathan P. Kalmoe

internethippo.bsky.social
Both sides of a conflict are calling each other evil and corrupt, rendering me, a humble journalist, helpless to discern the truth. Best I can do is let you know that both sides are in fact saying those things. Hope this helps
33 410 2.9K

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
The new paper is a candid look at the strong & weak points of the previous US Administration's migration policy, by top expert @marcelaescobari.bsky.social at @brookings.edu

Essential reading for all seek to build a better immigration policy for the US future:

www.brookings.edu/articles/man...
Managing migration under pressure | Brookings
Marcela Escobari and Alex Brockwehl analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Biden administration's migration policies.
www.brookings.edu
3

by Michael A. Clemens — Reposted by John McLaren

mclem.org
The number of inadmissible migrants crossing the Southwest border collapsed by 95% *before* the current US Administration took power.

Without military troops at the border, without draconian military sweeps of US cities.

So how did it happen? Important new paper: www.brookings.edu/articles/man...
1 8 30

by Michael A. Clemens — Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Brendan Nyhan, Aaron Sojourner , and 1 more

mclem.org
Our public money to support research at our universities is mandated by our Congress.

It is not the personal slush fund of the president, to withhold at will or dole out as largesse, rewarding those who please him.

Those who seek reform of universities can use laws, not arbitrary extortion.
robertkelchen.com
Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 2d
After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.
Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT
The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...
www.bloomberg.com
1 64 190

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law , and 13 more

robertkelchen.com
After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.
Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT
The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...
www.bloomberg.com
27 170 400

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
In light of today's Econ Nobel prize, a piece from my @centeronbudget.bsky.social colleagues:

A CBO analysis estimates that every additional federal dollar invested in non-defense R&D increases the size of the economy by an average of $11.50 over 30 years. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Administration’s Proposed Cuts to Non-Defense R&D Pose Long-Term Risk to Rising Living Standards | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
New, high-quality research quantifying the powerful impact of federal non-defense research and development shows why the dramatic cuts to non-defense R&D funding proposed by the Trump Administration w...
www.cbpp.org
2 11

by Michael A. Clemens — Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Nathan Nunn, Joshua Goodman , and 1 more

mclem.org
Innovation is at the center of economic growth. Congratulations to three who’ve taught us so much.

www.nobelprize.org/prizes/econo...
14 42

by Michael A. Clemens — Reposted by David Levinson, Nathan Nunn, Climent Quintana‐Domeque

mclem.org
The US Administration has mounted an unprecedented and unpopular attack on high skill immigration.

It’s working. The world’s best and brightest are starting to understand that the US government considers them an infection.

www.economist.com/science-and-...
58 130

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Jane E. Fountain, Greg Woolf , and 5 more

laprofmme.bsky.social
Courtesy of colleagues at Penn
A variation on Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 engraving in the Pennsylvania Gazette, published in Philadelphia, in an effort to foster cooperation among the various colonies against the tyrant king of Britain, with the American colonies replaced by the nine universities selected for special collaboration opportunities
34 840 3.9K

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

elizabethlinos.bsky.social
Apparently it needs to be said one more time: the way to keep our cities safe is to invest in the people who keep us safe. The people who make sure our water is safe, our roads are safe, our food is safe, our kids are safe...
32 180

by Michael A. Clemens

mclem.org
Americans reject authoritarian rule.
histoftech.bsky.social
NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · 5d
The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
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References

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