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John Palfrey
@palfrey.org
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President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

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John Gorham Palfrey VII is an American educator, scholar, and law professor. His areas of focus include emerging media, Internet freedom, online transparency and accountability, and child safety. In March 2019, he was named the president of the MacArthur Foundation effective September 1, 2019. Palfrey was the 15th Head of School at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from 2012 to 2019. He was executive director of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society from 2002 to 2008. .. more

Political science 28%
Business 16%
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John Palfrey @palfrey.org · Nov 18
It is a rare thing to be able to award a $100 million grant but today we do so @macfound.org. I’m thrilled to share the Broad Institute’s Sentinel project is @macfound 100&Change Award Recipient!

www.macfound.org/press/press-...
Sentinel Awarded $100 Million to Prevent Pandemics
www.macfound.org

Reposted by John Palfrey

obamafoundation.bsky.social
The Obama Foundation @obamafoundation.bsky.social · 1d
From one natural-born US citizen to another, have a great Benito Bowl!

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 1d
"I didn't make a mistake."

OK, this is not news, it is reminder # 1001+:

Support for this regime is support for stone-cold racism.

Every American, everyone everywhere, is fully on notice.

History and our ancestors will be the judge.
roxanegay.bsky.social Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 3d
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.

Reposted by Richard B. Aronson, John R. Hutchinson, Steve Peers , and 13 more

jimacosta.bsky.social
Jim Acosta @jimacosta.bsky.social · 1d
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors

Reposted by John R. Hutchinson, Trevon D. Logan, Karen Benjamin Guzzo , and 16 more

allenk81.bsky.social
Allenk_81 @allenk81.bsky.social · 1d
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.

Reposted by John Palfrey

stevenbeschloss.bsky.social
Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 1d
“Tragically, racism is not a relic of a bygone era when slavery was legal; rather, it is a driving force for the man currently occupying our White House.”

www.americaamerica.news/p/can-americ...
Can America Ever Overcome the Scourge of Racism?
A Saturday Prompt
www.americaamerica.news

Reposted by Mark D. White, Rosemary A. Joyce, Melissa R. Michelson , and 18 more

roxanegay.bsky.social
Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 3d
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 3d
Not fake outrage. Absolutely outrageous.
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d
President Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes, the latest in a long pattern by Trump of promoting offensive stereotypes about Black Americans and others. The White House press secretary dismissed criticism as “fake outrage.”
Trump Shares Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes
The White House press secretary dismissed criticism of the clip’s racist content, shared by the president’s Truth Social account, as “fake outrage.”
nyti.ms

Reposted by Anders Nilsson, John Palfrey

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d
President Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes, the latest in a long pattern by Trump of promoting offensive stereotypes about Black Americans and others. The White House press secretary dismissed criticism as “fake outrage.”
Trump Shares Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes
The White House press secretary dismissed criticism of the clip’s racist content, shared by the president’s Truth Social account, as “fake outrage.”
nyti.ms

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 4d
I think the biggest change was the dramatic increase in funding media and journalism over the past few years -- and especially the creation of Press Forward, now a national effort with 110+ funders and 40+ local chapters across America.

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 4d
Ingenuity, care, grit, determination: through 2025, these characteristics shined in our sector. @macfound directors saw this clearly in leaders, nonprofits, partners, and communities. Read their reflections, and let us know what resonated:

www.macfound.org/press/perspe...
What Our Directors Learned from the Field in 2025
www.macfound.org

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 4d
Quite a read. #RuleofLaw
annabower.bsky.social Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 5d
#WITAOD IS SO BACK, BABY!!!
klasfeldreports.com Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 5d
NEWS

Elon Musk and others LOSE their bid to duck depositions in DOGE litigation.

Judge doubts protections for "high-ranking government officials" for multiple reasons. It's unclear they ever had that status, and Musk "left government service."

Doc buff.ly/uhpSOTz

Reposted by John Palfrey

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 4d
For today's bonus issue of "One First," I wrote about Monday's @nytimes.com scoop regarding Chief Justice Roberts having clerks and other employees sign non-disclosure agreements, and why #SCOTUS's transparency problems run far deeper and wider than just NDAs:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/bonus-207-...
Bonus 207: The Court's True Transparency Problem(s)
Monday's New York Times scoop on Chief Justice Roberts having employees sign non-disclosure agreements would hit differently if the justices were *remotely* committed to more transparency elsewhere.
www.stevevladeck.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, John Palfrey

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 4d
one thing i have noticed is a lot of folks do not seem to understand the difference between a presidential election and 435+ legislative elections. i have seen any number of people say that you could subvert the outcome this november by targeting “swing states,” which does not make any sense.

Reposted by John Palfrey, Ann Bartow

annabower.bsky.social
Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 5d
#WITAOD IS SO BACK, BABY!!!
klasfeldreports.com Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 5d
NEWS

Elon Musk and others LOSE their bid to duck depositions in DOGE litigation.

Judge doubts protections for "high-ranking government officials" for multiple reasons. It's unclear they ever had that status, and Musk "left government service."

Doc buff.ly/uhpSOTz
"Even assuming, consistent with the approach taken by certain other circuits, that depositions of high-ranking government officials should be restricted absent extraordinary circumstances regardless of whether they seek testimony on mental processes, the Court still finds that the protective order is not warranted . At the outset, it is at best unclear whether Musk, Marocco, and Lewin are properly deemed to be high -ranking government officials for purposes of this doctrine. Notably, in cases in which courts have barred depositions of cabinet secretaries, depositions of senior , Senate-confirmed subcabinet officials have been permitted to proceed. ...Here, USAID was not a cabinet -level agency, none of the designated officials were the head of that agency, and several were operating in an informal or acting role at the time of the relevant events."

Reposted by John Palfrey

billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 5d
"Trump lamented that he failed to activate the National Guard to seize voting machines in 2020. The Fulton raid should set alarm bells ringing about Trump’s willingness to abuse the power of his office to undermine free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Warning Signs of Election Interference
The Fulton County raid and other recent developments show how Trump and his allies are moving to discredit losses and control future elections.
open.substack.com

Reposted by John Palfrey

freedom.press
Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 6d
“Don Lemon's enemies are as much reliant on a free press as Don Lemon’s viewers and followers are,” FPF’s @seth-stern.bsky.social tells @legalafmtn.bsky.social’s @klasfeldreports.com, highlighting that press freedom is a bipartisan issue.

“These are rights that are crucial to all of us.”

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 8d
David French: "This Is Not a Drill"

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...
Opinion | This Is Not a Drill
www.nytimes.com

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 8d
Thanks for "showing your math" @jayrosen.bsky.social

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 8d
Judge Boasberg cleared.
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · 8d
A high-ranking federal appeals judge dismissed an ethics complaint filed by the Justice Department against Judge James Boasberg, whose rulings repeatedly raised questions about the Trump administration’s respect for the rule of law.
Judge Who Ruled Against Trump Administration Cleared of Justice Dept. Complaint
Trump allies have called for Judge James E. Boasberg to be investigated and impeached after decisions that questioned the administration’s respect for the rule of law.
nyti.ms

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 8d
@startribune.com

Reposted by John Palfrey

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 8d
A high-ranking federal appeals judge dismissed an ethics complaint filed by the Justice Department against Judge James Boasberg, whose rulings repeatedly raised questions about the Trump administration’s respect for the rule of law.
Judge Who Ruled Against Trump Administration Cleared of Justice Dept. Complaint
Trump allies have called for Judge James E. Boasberg to be investigated and impeached after decisions that questioned the administration’s respect for the rule of law.
nyti.ms

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 8d
@mplsfoundation.bsky.social

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 9d
R.T. Rybak on how Minnesotans are winning the hearts and minds of a nation under terrible circumstances

www.startribune.com/rt-rybak-wit...
R.T. Rybak: With a jackboot on our necks, the North Star state rises
President Donald Trump wanted to make an example of Minnesota, and the joke’s on him because we have become the example to the world about how to stand up to his bullying.
www.startribune.com

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 10d
If ever there were a time to support a free and independent press, now is that time.

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 10d
They're doing the hard work. We are honored to write some checks to support them doing it.

Reposted by John Palfrey

freedom.press
Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 10d
We are OUTRAGED and deeply alarmed by the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort by federal agents, and by the government’s escalating effort to criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.

The First Amendment is not optional and journalism is not a crime.
NABJ OUTRAGED AT ARRESTS OF DON LEMON, GEORGIA FORT ‘THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS NOT OPTIONAL’
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is outraged and deeply alarmed by the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort by federal agents, and […]
nabjonline.org

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 10d
Thank you, @drwolfe.bsky.social, for this meaningful reporting.

Reposted by John Palfrey

insidephilanthropy.com
Inside Philanthropy @insidephilanthropy.com · 11d
Everyday Americans, foundations, corporations and more are all moving money to help Minneapolis nonprofits cope with the federal occupation of their city. Here are some key funders so far.

Dawn Wolfe(@drwolfe.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/yck8h2uw

#ImmigrantJustice #HumanRights #Minneapolis
Seven Funders Supporting Minneapolis — And How to Find Nonprofits to Back
Everyday Americans, foundations, corporations and more are all moving money to help Minneapolis nonprofits cope with the federal occupation of their city. Here are some key funders so far.
tinyurl.com

palfrey.org
John Palfrey @palfrey.org · 15d
UPDATE:

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Appeals Court Rejects Justice Dept. Push for Arrest Warrant for Don Lemon
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Richard E. Lenski, John Horgan , and 5 more

anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 15d
This witness to Alex Pretti's murder not only refutes the governmen't story, but says she is afraid to go home because federal agents might arrest her. This is what it feels like to live under state terror.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
TincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF
www.documentcloud.org