Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
@cnwillis.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University.
Research: USFP, civ-mil, East/Southeast Asia, contentious politics, pedagogy, fieldwork.
Website: cnwillis.com
She/her 🏳️🌈#BLM
The views expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.
Research: USFP, civ-mil, East/Southeast Asia, contentious politics, pedagogy, fieldwork.
Website: cnwillis.com
She/her 🏳️🌈#BLM
The views expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.
Pinned
I'm pleased to announce that I am officially off the ac. job market. Starting Fall 2025, I will be a tenure-track assistant professor at Old Dominion University in Asian politics. Thank you to all of my friends, family, students, teachers, mentors, interviewees, and all who have helped me get here.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
This is a clarifying moment: one that reveals the particularly vicious form of authoritarianism taking root in America today www.vox.com/policy/47639...
The killing of Alex Pretti is a grim turning point
Trump’s authoritarianism is becoming less subtle — and more vicious.
www.vox.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:32 PM
This is a clarifying moment: one that reveals the particularly vicious form of authoritarianism taking root in America today www.vox.com/policy/47639...
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
We're going to liberate the people of Greenland from cancer
Waltz: "Denmark has ignored Greenland from a defense standpoint and they have ignored the Greenlandic native iniut people ... if you get a cancer diagnosis in Greenland right now, it's darn near a death sentence. Denmark has not invested in the way it should've over the years."
January 25, 2026 at 4:51 PM
We're going to liberate the people of Greenland from cancer
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
I’ve been a proud wesleyan alum for years but especially proud given how @msroth.bsky.social has been a leading voice of reason and justice this past year.
"We should bear witness to the brutality and demand that our government protect our freedoms—not crush them with armed, masked men who think they can act with impunity. As people who have chosen learning, it’s the least we can do." —Wesleyan University President @msroth.bsky.social on Minneapolis
Minneapolis is Now Ground Zero for Our Democracy
www.wesleyan.edu
January 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM
I’ve been a proud wesleyan alum for years but especially proud given how @msroth.bsky.social has been a leading voice of reason and justice this past year.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Worth noting that the @wsj.com has joined with the @nytimes.com and Bellingcat to say that ICE is lying in its description of the shooting of Alex Pretti. The video evidence more and more supports the view that this was a gratuitous execution. www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation on Saturday.
www.wsj.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Worth noting that the @wsj.com has joined with the @nytimes.com and Bellingcat to say that ICE is lying in its description of the shooting of Alex Pretti. The video evidence more and more supports the view that this was a gratuitous execution. www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Trump posts an unhinged rant about his $400 million ballroom the day after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
January 25, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Trump posts an unhinged rant about his $400 million ballroom the day after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents on Saturday, was a registered nurse who worked in the ICU at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis. “He wanted to be helpful, to help humanity and have a career that was a force of good in the world,” a colleague said. trib.al/0Yb3jXF
January 25, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents on Saturday, was a registered nurse who worked in the ICU at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis. “He wanted to be helpful, to help humanity and have a career that was a force of good in the world,” a colleague said. trib.al/0Yb3jXF
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
New YouGov poll: Abolish ICE is now at a *record high* level of support in the United States
46% support
41% oppose
Independents are +12 on abolishing ICE
19% of Republicans now support abolishing ICE as well
46% support
41% oppose
Independents are +12 on abolishing ICE
19% of Republicans now support abolishing ICE as well
January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM
New YouGov poll: Abolish ICE is now at a *record high* level of support in the United States
46% support
41% oppose
Independents are +12 on abolishing ICE
19% of Republicans now support abolishing ICE as well
46% support
41% oppose
Independents are +12 on abolishing ICE
19% of Republicans now support abolishing ICE as well
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
DHS has shot 12 people during immigration enforcement operations since September:
January 25, 2026 at 4:27 PM
DHS has shot 12 people during immigration enforcement operations since September:
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Murphy on Bovino: "That was a bone-chilling interview. I was shaking while I was listening to it, in large part bc it takes just an unbelievable amount of gall to lie to the American public. Everybody saw that video ... it should freak the public out that the Trump administration lies this easily"
January 25, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Murphy on Bovino: "That was a bone-chilling interview. I was shaking while I was listening to it, in large part bc it takes just an unbelievable amount of gall to lie to the American public. Everybody saw that video ... it should freak the public out that the Trump administration lies this easily"
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
It's so amazing that "sorry chud but you DON'T have a 2nd amendment right to bear arms" is now literally the official GOP position
Kash Patel: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." (Pretti was carrying a gun legally.)
January 25, 2026 at 3:45 PM
It's so amazing that "sorry chud but you DON'T have a 2nd amendment right to bear arms" is now literally the official GOP position
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Low energy Trump.
January 25, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Low energy Trump.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland undermine NATO, but also risk fatally harming cooperation among the A7 Arctic states.
Our Nordic allies are clear and united that Greenland is part of K. of Denmark and its future is for Greenlanders to decide.
Canada must be as clear.
Our Nordic allies are clear and united that Greenland is part of K. of Denmark and its future is for Greenlanders to decide.
Canada must be as clear.
January 4, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland undermine NATO, but also risk fatally harming cooperation among the A7 Arctic states.
Our Nordic allies are clear and united that Greenland is part of K. of Denmark and its future is for Greenlanders to decide.
Canada must be as clear.
Our Nordic allies are clear and united that Greenland is part of K. of Denmark and its future is for Greenlanders to decide.
Canada must be as clear.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
This story details that the teen they detained for six months was just about to graduate high school early at the age of 16.
Definitely the kind of irredeemable criminal monster we don’t want in America.
Definitely the kind of irredeemable criminal monster we don’t want in America.
Meriden teen is back home for Christmas, after six months in detention at an ICE facility
The Meriden community welcomes home a teen who was detained for six months at a federal ICE facility.
www.ctpublic.org
January 4, 2026 at 11:33 PM
This story details that the teen they detained for six months was just about to graduate high school early at the age of 16.
Definitely the kind of irredeemable criminal monster we don’t want in America.
Definitely the kind of irredeemable criminal monster we don’t want in America.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Last year, there was a big debate on SM about using "delve" as an obvious AI tell. The postcolonials were miffed! The colonials just didn't understand why. As a postcolonial, even if English is your first language, it is a particular version of imposed English. Lose-lose. Again.
this is why I have minimal faith in my capacity to spot 'AI tells'. there are racial, cultural and class dimensions to certain formalities of language. did you learn English from someone whose first language wasn't English? did you glean your turns of phrase from out-of-date books? etc etc
YES! So many structures and words that have been classed as AI giveaways are what speakers of English as a second language have been taught and encouraged to do.
December 16, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Last year, there was a big debate on SM about using "delve" as an obvious AI tell. The postcolonials were miffed! The colonials just didn't understand why. As a postcolonial, even if English is your first language, it is a particular version of imposed English. Lose-lose. Again.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Clear and concise. @drodrik.bsky.social is always important to read.
The Post-Neoliberal Consensus Is Here
Dani Rodrik identifies three tenets of a new consensus that is uniting the left and the right in the United States.
www.project-syndicate.org
December 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Clear and concise. @drodrik.bsky.social is always important to read.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
November 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
I'm really glad to see someone like Kelly finally saying this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
November 30, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I'm really glad to see someone like Kelly finally saying this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
November 22, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Trump is saying he won’t sign ANY extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
He is basically ensuring premiums will double or even quadruple for millions of Americans.
And the worst price hikes will be in states Trump won!
He is basically ensuring premiums will double or even quadruple for millions of Americans.
And the worst price hikes will be in states Trump won!
Trump Tells Congress to Not ‘Waste’ Time on Obamacare Subsidies
President Donald Trump said he will not support legislation to extend expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies even as senators are preparing to tee up a vote on the issue, complicating his party’s effo...
www.bloomberg.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Trump is saying he won’t sign ANY extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
He is basically ensuring premiums will double or even quadruple for millions of Americans.
And the worst price hikes will be in states Trump won!
He is basically ensuring premiums will double or even quadruple for millions of Americans.
And the worst price hikes will be in states Trump won!
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
There is never a strategy that is cost less, but strapping your party’s entire fortune to a 79 year old sociopath comes with more costs than most. In 2026, people like Susan Collins and all the other enablers will pay the price. 4/4
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
There is never a strategy that is cost less, but strapping your party’s entire fortune to a 79 year old sociopath comes with more costs than most. In 2026, people like Susan Collins and all the other enablers will pay the price. 4/4
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
You’re seeing the limits of an entire political movement based around one guy. Trump won in 24 with a unique coalition of Latinos and young people in addition to the traditional R voters, and Trump just completely abandoned these new supporters as president to the detriment of the entire party 1/4
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
You’re seeing the limits of an entire political movement based around one guy. Trump won in 24 with a unique coalition of Latinos and young people in addition to the traditional R voters, and Trump just completely abandoned these new supporters as president to the detriment of the entire party 1/4
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
To understand Trump is to understand he doesn't believe in repeated games where cooperation is the equilibrium strategy because people can punish non-cooperation in the future. He thinks everything is a one off prisoner's dilemma and tries to screw the other party no matter the future consequences.
For Trump, there is no time horizon that matters beyond the immediate. He could care less about the Republican Party of 2027, let alone 2029 and beyond. This is the Republican deal with the devil. They put Trump in charge, but Trump doesn’t care about others beyond how it affects him. 2/4
November 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
To understand Trump is to understand he doesn't believe in repeated games where cooperation is the equilibrium strategy because people can punish non-cooperation in the future. He thinks everything is a one off prisoner's dilemma and tries to screw the other party no matter the future consequences.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Trump’s corruption would embarrass Boss Tweed.
(Forbes) - The Trump Organization’s second-term push to monetize Donald Trump’s presidency has reached the aisles of military exchanges, as Coast Guard-run stores .. have stocked Trump-branded wine and cider. 🤡
@zacheverson.com
www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
@zacheverson.com
www.forbes.com/sites/zachev...
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Trump’s corruption would embarrass Boss Tweed.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Anyone who has been to the grocery store knows that the President of the United is lying.
Trump: Our groceries are way down. Everything is way down. So I don't want to hear about the affordability.
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Anyone who has been to the grocery store knows that the President of the United is lying.
Reposted by Charmaine N. Willis, Ph.D.
Unprecedented corruption - not just monetizing the presidency by selling branded products, but selling those products directly to government employees and having the Department of Homeland Security promote them to the media
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Unprecedented corruption - not just monetizing the presidency by selling branded products, but selling those products directly to government employees and having the Department of Homeland Security promote them to the media