Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
Prof at Notre Dame (alexanderkustov.org). Author of "In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular" (http://tinyurl.com/4rwpr6dc). Writing at "Popular by Design" (http://tinyurl.com/b93bwr9j).
Pinned
Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
· Dec 18
I'm still in disbelief, but I have some doubly good news: I got tenure, and in January I'm starting as an Associate Professor at @notredame.bsky.social's Keough School of Global Affairs. I'm excited to keep working on making immigration policy better in theory and practice.
Had a few hours between dinner and meetings, so I decided to try Claude Cowork for the first time and revamp my website by vibecoding an accordion tag system for my papers.
I tried to do it a few years ago, miserably failed, and gave up after days of hopeless work. We do live in interesting times!
I tried to do it a few years ago, miserably failed, and gave up after days of hopeless work. We do live in interesting times!
February 18, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Had a few hours between dinner and meetings, so I decided to try Claude Cowork for the first time and revamp my website by vibecoding an accordion tag system for my papers.
I tried to do it a few years ago, miserably failed, and gave up after days of hopeless work. We do live in interesting times!
I tried to do it a few years ago, miserably failed, and gave up after days of hopeless work. We do live in interesting times!
Come to the carefully curated and completely captivating Carolinas Conflict Consortium at the Carter Center (CCCCC)!
📢 Carolinas Conflict Consortium 2026 — Call for Papers
📍 Carter Center, Atlanta | May 14–15 | Deadline: March 9
First time outside the Carolinas. Papers or designs on conflict & political behavior. Carter Center themes especially welcome.
@cartercenter.bsky.social | conflictconsortium.org
📍 Carter Center, Atlanta | May 14–15 | Deadline: March 9
First time outside the Carolinas. Papers or designs on conflict & political behavior. Carter Center themes especially welcome.
@cartercenter.bsky.social | conflictconsortium.org
Carolinas Conflict Consortium
conflictconsortium.org
February 18, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Come to the carefully curated and completely captivating Carolinas Conflict Consortium at the Carter Center (CCCCC)!
Sorry folks, but I don't see how this site is better than Twitter. How is new quality opinion survey data on an issue academics mostly ignored "anti-trans"? Why is this being approvingly shared rather than ridiculed? It's not 2020 anymore—you can't just yell "bigot" at empirical data you don't like.
February 17, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Sorry folks, but I don't see how this site is better than Twitter. How is new quality opinion survey data on an issue academics mostly ignored "anti-trans"? Why is this being approvingly shared rather than ridiculed? It's not 2020 anymore—you can't just yell "bigot" at empirical data you don't like.
I haven't seen much from social scientists and opinion scholars on what's driving the trans backlash beyond the thermostatic reaction.
One of the most dramatic opinion shifts in recent memory, and the field has largely sat it out. No matter where you stand personally, that's not a great look.
One of the most dramatic opinion shifts in recent memory, and the field has largely sat it out. No matter where you stand personally, that's not a great look.
The trans rights backlash is real
The Democratic Party is bouncing back. The trans rights movement is not.
www.theargumentmag.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I haven't seen much from social scientists and opinion scholars on what's driving the trans backlash beyond the thermostatic reaction.
One of the most dramatic opinion shifts in recent memory, and the field has largely sat it out. No matter where you stand personally, that's not a great look.
One of the most dramatic opinion shifts in recent memory, and the field has largely sat it out. No matter where you stand personally, that's not a great look.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Student migration is one of the most popular forms of immigration—until it isn't. When universities start selling immigration status instead of education amid housing shortages, the consensus collapses.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
What's the Matter with Foreign Students?
Student migration is popular until governments stop caring how it works
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Student migration is one of the most popular forms of immigration—until it isn't. When universities start selling immigration status instead of education amid housing shortages, the consensus collapses.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
Student migration is one of the most popular forms of immigration—until it isn't. When universities start selling immigration status instead of education amid housing shortages, the consensus collapses.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
What's the Matter with Foreign Students?
Student migration is popular until governments stop caring how it works
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Student migration is one of the most popular forms of immigration—until it isn't. When universities start selling immigration status instead of education amid housing shortages, the consensus collapses.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
My new piece on what went wrong in Canada and elsewhere, and how to fix it.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Now also available as a Claude Code skill thanks to @tiagoventura.bsky.social www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pk0np...
February 16, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Now also available as a Claude Code skill thanks to @tiagoventura.bsky.social www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pk0np...
My sense is the "agentic AI is making us dumb" crowd is probably right. But I've also noticed my procrastination bar going up. Instead of doomscrolling, I now slack off by trying side projects in CC. May be the most productive form of non-work there is. I don't think it's just me.
February 15, 2026 at 7:44 PM
My sense is the "agentic AI is making us dumb" crowd is probably right. But I've also noticed my procrastination bar going up. Instead of doomscrolling, I now slack off by trying side projects in CC. May be the most productive form of non-work there is. I don't think it's just me.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Nick Vivyan, Chris Hanretty (@chanret.bsky.social) and I have a new book out: “Idiosyncratic Issue Opinion and Political Choice”. The core of the book is making the argument that citizens’ views about political issues neither reduce to an ideological orientation nor to a lack of substance. (1/10)
February 13, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Nick Vivyan, Chris Hanretty (@chanret.bsky.social) and I have a new book out: “Idiosyncratic Issue Opinion and Political Choice”. The core of the book is making the argument that citizens’ views about political issues neither reduce to an ideological orientation nor to a lack of substance. (1/10)
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
February 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
Legal and ethical issues aside, the reality is that folks who submit their paper anywhere should be prepared for their work to be uploaded and analyzed by some kind of AI algorithm.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Some journals are now requesting reviewers affirm that they did not upload manuscripts into AI platforms.
February 13, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Legal and ethical issues aside, the reality is that folks who submit their paper anywhere should be prepared for their work to be uploaded and analyzed by some kind of AI algorithm.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My pro-immigration misinformation piece that will probably annoy almost everyone is finally out. If you care about democratic trust or are just curious what liberal elites don't want to say out loud, this is for you.
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
January 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
My pro-immigration misinformation piece that will probably annoy almost everyone is finally out. If you care about democratic trust or are just curious what liberal elites don't want to say out loud, this is for you.
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Gallup says it will stop doing presidential approval polls (after 88 years of doing it) because of "an evolution in how Gallup focuses it's public research". This is eliminating a time series that goes back to FDR.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Gallup says it will stop doing presidential approval polls (after 88 years of doing it) because of "an evolution in how Gallup focuses it's public research". This is eliminating a time series that goes back to FDR.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reflections on “The Uncomfortable Truths about Immigration”
What I learned, what I got wrong, and answers to the most common questions.
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
“We noticed some anger from doctors last week. That’s why we invited RFK Jr. to talk about vaccines”
February 11, 2026 at 12:53 AM
“We noticed some anger from doctors last week. That’s why we invited RFK Jr. to talk about vaccines”
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reflections on “The Uncomfortable Truths about Immigration”
What I learned, what I got wrong, and answers to the most common questions.
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
My tentative book talk schedule for 2026 is up. Reach out if you want to join any of these events or organize one at your org.
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
My tentative book talk schedule for 2026 is up. Reach out if you want to join any of these events or organize one at your org.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 AM
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 AM
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
"Public intellectual" might be too generous a description of John Stewart, but I'm sharing this link because it documents similar behavior--reckless disregard for the truth in criticizing the field of economics to a large audience: www.theargumentmag.com/p/jon-stewar...
Jon Stewart has become his own worst nightmare
Econ 101? In this economy?
www.theargumentmag.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
"Public intellectual" might be too generous a description of John Stewart, but I'm sharing this link because it documents similar behavior--reckless disregard for the truth in criticizing the field of economics to a large audience: www.theargumentmag.com/p/jon-stewar...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.