Besnik Pula
@besnikpula.bsky.social
Political economist & social theorist, currently researching knowledge, phenomenology, and computation in the Cold War (not always in that order) | Author of books | Scholar of trivial topics | Personal account | besnikpula.com
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Besnik Pula
@besnikpula.bsky.social
· Sep 2
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
What’s really going on with AI and jobs?
Record-breaking layoff reports, Amazon's mass firings, and a slump in entry level employment. Is AI behind it all?
www.bloodinthemachine.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Reposted by Besnik Pula
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
The story of Schutz in American sociology is more than a history of ideas. It’s a case study in how intellectual migration and translation reshape disciplines. My new publication in JCS #sociology #phenomenology journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The story of Schutz in American sociology is more than a history of ideas. It’s a case study in how intellectual migration and translation reshape disciplines. My new publication in JCS #sociology #phenomenology journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
My response to the NYT’s “moderate to win” argument: The data shows the strategy is tapped out. Being seen as moderate by voters doesn’t boost votes, replacing every progressive with moderates would net 0 seats, and the graveyard of defeated D incumbents if full of moderates, not progressives.
The New York Times Argues “Moving to the Center Is the Way to Win.” But the Data Shows the Strategy Is Tapped Out.
Democrats already run moderates in nearly every swing district. It's not enough. A data-driven response to the case for centrism as a core electoral strategy.
data4democracy.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
My response to the NYT’s “moderate to win” argument: The data shows the strategy is tapped out. Being seen as moderate by voters doesn’t boost votes, replacing every progressive with moderates would net 0 seats, and the graveyard of defeated D incumbents if full of moderates, not progressives.
“I call it the vicious cycle of a failing strongman—that the more he fails, the more he grows distant from the public, which encourages him to become more of an illiberal strongman.”
Trump's deranged threat to fire federal workers and his killing of NY-NJ project are backfiring: Both are now big issues in VA-NJ gov races!
And new CNBC poll shows indys blaming Trump/GOP over Dems by 58-21.
On the pod, @simonwdc.bsky.social explains all this well:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
And new CNBC poll shows indys blaming Trump/GOP over Dems by 58-21.
On the pod, @simonwdc.bsky.social explains all this well:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
Trump’s Fury at Dems Goes Nuclear as Crushing New Shutdown Poll Hits
As Trump’s anger grows amid another poll slide, Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg explains why Trump’s deep unpopularity should give you solace—even if beating him long term will be a brutal slog.
newrepublic.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“I call it the vicious cycle of a failing strongman—that the more he fails, the more he grows distant from the public, which encourages him to become more of an illiberal strongman.”
Reposted by Besnik Pula
You can see pretty clearly in this chart why the "K-shaped recovery" narrative was nonsense prior to roughly this year but is now very real.
New w/ @bencasselman.bsky.social: Wealthy Americans, buoyed by a booming stock market, are spending freely. Lower-income households, stung by inflation and a slowing labor market, are pulling back
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b... @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b... @nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
You can see pretty clearly in this chart why the "K-shaped recovery" narrative was nonsense prior to roughly this year but is now very real.
Reposted by Besnik Pula
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
We are hiring in US politics!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Assistant Professor, U.S. Politics & Political Institutions | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We are hiring in US politics!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
Presidents can go to jail for crimes? www.cnbc.com/2025/09/25/f...
Former French President Sarkozy handed 5-year jail term in stunning downfall
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will soon be imprisoned after he was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday.
www.cnbc.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Presidents can go to jail for crimes? www.cnbc.com/2025/09/25/f...
"Per the ACEA, Tesla EV registrations in Europe fell to just 8,837 units in July, a 40.2% drop compared to a year ago. ... Meanwhile, China's BYD (BYDDY), which sells both full EVs and hybrids, saw registrations surge 225% in July to 13,503"
European buyers now prefer Chinese cars over American autos: Study
President Trump's trade war is doing reputational damage to the US in surprising ways, at least when it comes to the auto sector.
finance.yahoo.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"Per the ACEA, Tesla EV registrations in Europe fell to just 8,837 units in July, a 40.2% drop compared to a year ago. ... Meanwhile, China's BYD (BYDDY), which sells both full EVs and hybrids, saw registrations surge 225% in July to 13,503"
Reposted by Besnik Pula
🎓Did you know? In 2024, combined Political Science and International Studies students achieved an impressive 90% law school acceptance rate—well above the national average of 69.4%! 📈
September 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🎓Did you know? In 2024, combined Political Science and International Studies students achieved an impressive 90% law school acceptance rate—well above the national average of 69.4%! 📈
Helpful reminder that the "average consumer", if it was anything other than a mathematical notion, is an idea from a by-gone era in the US economy now that about half the spending is done by the top 10% of earners
Retail spending is starting to look more and more like the labor market
Spending data shows a resilient consumer powering the economy, but that strength is skewed.
finance.yahoo.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Helpful reminder that the "average consumer", if it was anything other than a mathematical notion, is an idea from a by-gone era in the US economy now that about half the spending is done by the top 10% of earners
Honored to see the review of my book by Eduardo Duran published in @actasociologica.bsky.social Truly appreciate the attention!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
September 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Honored to see the review of my book by Eduardo Duran published in @actasociologica.bsky.social Truly appreciate the attention!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
NEW from me @newrepublic.com:
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
Democrats: Don’t Let Trump Define What State Capitalism Can Be
There’s no turning back from Trump’s moves on Intel and U.S. Steel. The challenge is to make public ownership serve the people.
newrepublic.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
NEW from me @newrepublic.com:
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
September 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Extremely honored to have a chapter included in this forthcoming Handbook of 1989 and the Great Transformation, featuring some of the top scholars working on questions of global transformation anywhere and edited by an outstanding group of researchers
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
August 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Extremely honored to have a chapter included in this forthcoming Handbook of 1989 and the Great Transformation, featuring some of the top scholars working on questions of global transformation anywhere and edited by an outstanding group of researchers
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
Factory robots once replaced assembly lines; now AI targets high-level tasks. Will history repeat itself, or can we steer innovation in emancipatory ways? My latest essay explores the legacy and past promises of automation in the era of Big Tech
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
August 6, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Factory robots once replaced assembly lines; now AI targets high-level tasks. Will history repeat itself, or can we steer innovation in emancipatory ways? My latest essay explores the legacy and past promises of automation in the era of Big Tech
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
America has lost 116k manufacturing jobs over the last year—that's the fastest pace of job loss since the early COVID era and worse than any period from 2011-2019.
Big drops in the transportation (-49k) & electronics (-32k) industries drive most of the decline
Big drops in the transportation (-49k) & electronics (-32k) industries drive most of the decline
August 2, 2025 at 6:47 PM
America has lost 116k manufacturing jobs over the last year—that's the fastest pace of job loss since the early COVID era and worse than any period from 2011-2019.
Big drops in the transportation (-49k) & electronics (-32k) industries drive most of the decline
Big drops in the transportation (-49k) & electronics (-32k) industries drive most of the decline
Reposted by Besnik Pula
Did the EU blink first, or was it a strategic play? My new article dissects the US-EU trade deal that left many Europeans frustrated. We also draw surprising lessons from the 15th-century Hanseatic League, which once faced foreign tolls and crumbled under disunity. open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
EU Trade Deal with the US—A Failure of Leverage or Political Resolve?
With some lessons from the Hanseatic League
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Did the EU blink first, or was it a strategic play? My new article dissects the US-EU trade deal that left many Europeans frustrated. We also draw surprising lessons from the 15th-century Hanseatic League, which once faced foreign tolls and crumbled under disunity. open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
New survey evidence on university faculty views and teaching practices: "The one-dimensional portrayal of US universities as bastions of the political left filled with 'woke' faculty who impose their views on students is at odds w/the findings of this study" scholarworks.brandeis.edu/esploro/outp...
July 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
New survey evidence on university faculty views and teaching practices: "The one-dimensional portrayal of US universities as bastions of the political left filled with 'woke' faculty who impose their views on students is at odds w/the findings of this study" scholarworks.brandeis.edu/esploro/outp...
Did the EU blink first, or was it a strategic play? My new article dissects the US-EU trade deal that left many Europeans frustrated. We also draw surprising lessons from the 15th-century Hanseatic League, which once faced foreign tolls and crumbled under disunity. open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
EU Trade Deal with the US—A Failure of Leverage or Political Resolve?
With some lessons from the Hanseatic League
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Did the EU blink first, or was it a strategic play? My new article dissects the US-EU trade deal that left many Europeans frustrated. We also draw surprising lessons from the 15th-century Hanseatic League, which once faced foreign tolls and crumbled under disunity. open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
My entry in @asaskat.bsky.social's blog discusses the role of hobbyists and computer groups in co-creating modern computing platforms and the lessons they offer for the AI era, building on Alfred Schutz's classic essay on the well-informed citizen
Computing, Co-Creation, and the Well-Informed Citizen
By Besnik Pula, Virginia Tech, bpula@vt.edu Drawing from the first issue of the Menlo Park-based group People’s Computer Company Newsletter (October 1972). In its landmark 2021 report on AI ethics,…
asaskat.com
July 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My entry in @asaskat.bsky.social's blog discusses the role of hobbyists and computer groups in co-creating modern computing platforms and the lessons they offer for the AI era, building on Alfred Schutz's classic essay on the well-informed citizen
Reposted by Besnik Pula
My latest post discusses the recent turmoil faced by the dollar and the potentials for global shifts in world currencies, particularly the challenges faced by the euro indications.substack.com/p/uncertain-...
Uncertain Hegemony: The Dollar’s Turmoil
The Euro’s Opportunity, the Yuan’s Emergence, and the Dollar’s Next Chapter
indications.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My latest post discusses the recent turmoil faced by the dollar and the potentials for global shifts in world currencies, particularly the challenges faced by the euro indications.substack.com/p/uncertain-...
My latest post discusses the recent turmoil faced by the dollar and the potentials for global shifts in world currencies, particularly the challenges faced by the euro indications.substack.com/p/uncertain-...
Uncertain Hegemony: The Dollar’s Turmoil
The Euro’s Opportunity, the Yuan’s Emergence, and the Dollar’s Next Chapter
indications.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My latest post discusses the recent turmoil faced by the dollar and the potentials for global shifts in world currencies, particularly the challenges faced by the euro indications.substack.com/p/uncertain-...