Dan Pemstein
@danpemstein.com
Political economist working mostly on democratic institutions, tech, political careers and party org, and measurement. http://www.danpemstein.com
https://digitalsocietyproject.org
https://digitalsocietyproject.org
Pinned
Dan Pemstein
@danpemstein.com
· Jun 2
Happy to share this paper with Jeevan Baniya, @smeserve.bsky.social, and Brigitte Seim. We used multiple survey experiments to see how Nepali voters think about the trade-off between vote-buying and candidate provision of local public goods (schools, plumbing) in office. doi.org/10.1111/ajps... 1/
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Reagan-appointed federal judge: "justice is supposed to be administered...equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now....Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, & his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to."
“What Nixon did episodically and covertly, knowing it was illegal or improper, Trump now does routinely and overtly.” — recently retired federal judge
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Leaving the Federal Bench
A judge explains his reasons for resigning.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reagan-appointed federal judge: "justice is supposed to be administered...equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now....Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, & his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to."
“With concepts like harmlessness or reasoning, people oftentimes just throw the word around to pick something that falls near that category that they can measure and say, ‘Great, now I’ve measured it,’” Bean added.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
I appreciate the work of these authors to show that this problem not only is still here but has grown:
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
But it is also quite frustrating 🧵>>
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
But it is also quite frustrating 🧵>>
AI's capabilities may be exaggerated by flawed tests, according to new study
A study from the Oxford Internet Institute analyzed 445 tests used to evaluate AI models.
www.nbcnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:24 PM
“With concepts like harmlessness or reasoning, people oftentimes just throw the word around to pick something that falls near that category that they can measure and say, ‘Great, now I’ve measured it,’” Bean added.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
Also my social science pet peeve. Measuring human/social concepts is hard.
I can't be the only person hearing "terminate the filibuster" in an Austrian accent.
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I can't be the only person hearing "terminate the filibuster" in an Austrian accent.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
NO FOOD FOR YOU
November 8, 2025 at 3:00 AM
NO FOOD FOR YOU
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect & who gets heard. In partnership with Knight Georgetown Institute, we are launching a new series, Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data. The series starts today, with an essay from KGI’s Leticia Bode and Peter Chapman.
Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data | TechPolicy.Press
Introducing a series from Tech Policy Press and the Knight-Georgetown Institute, exploring why public platform data access is vital in today’s digital world.
www.techpolicy.press
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect & who gets heard. In partnership with Knight Georgetown Institute, we are launching a new series, Seeing the Digital Sphere: The Case for Public Platform Data. The series starts today, with an essay from KGI’s Leticia Bode and Peter Chapman.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
I've seen this go by a few times on TikTok now and I have to say, I love this idea. We need a way to convince people to keep running even if they don't win, maybe building the loss into it as a troll move is the secret.
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I've seen this go by a few times on TikTok now and I have to say, I love this idea. We need a way to convince people to keep running even if they don't win, maybe building the loss into it as a troll move is the secret.
November 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Very few Americans support actual political violence. Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
goodauthority.org
October 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Huh, must have missed it when
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Huh, must have missed it when
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
People are commenting “welcome to turkmenistan” all over Kyrgyz social media —and I have to say that the measure is indeed more extreme than anything we’ve seen in Kazakhstan or even Uzbekistan in recent years
October 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
People are commenting “welcome to turkmenistan” all over Kyrgyz social media —and I have to say that the measure is indeed more extreme than anything we’ve seen in Kazakhstan or even Uzbekistan in recent years
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
Saw a few more people in Teddy Roosevelt & on the Maah Daah Hey trail than I saw in the Boundary Waters two weeks ago, but not many. Did see Bison (only a couple, most are in winter pasture), feral horses, and prairie dogs. Heard coyote and elk.
TRNP/Maah Daah Hey 2025
Explore this photo album by Dan Pemstein on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Saw a few more people in Teddy Roosevelt & on the Maah Daah Hey trail than I saw in the Boundary Waters two weeks ago, but not many. Did see Bison (only a couple, most are in winter pasture), feral horses, and prairie dogs. Heard coyote and elk.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
This is exactly how the Turkey's Erdoğan dictatorship succeeded in remaking all mainstream media into regime media.
Not mainly by overt censorship. Mostly by making it clear that media firms clearly communicating the truth about regime actions would be targeted by selective/perverted 'regulation'.
Not mainly by overt censorship. Mostly by making it clear that media firms clearly communicating the truth about regime actions would be targeted by selective/perverted 'regulation'.
Another disturbing example of how Trump silences dissent: "the chief content officer for our parent company... stated in a meeting that we should not run articles that could draw the attention of the Trump White House and have them try to shut us down." www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Opinion | I Quit My Job in the Face of Pro-Trump Censorship
A veteran journalist says his bosses were afraid of crossing the administration.
www.politico.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
This is exactly how the Turkey's Erdoğan dictatorship succeeded in remaking all mainstream media into regime media.
Not mainly by overt censorship. Mostly by making it clear that media firms clearly communicating the truth about regime actions would be targeted by selective/perverted 'regulation'.
Not mainly by overt censorship. Mostly by making it clear that media firms clearly communicating the truth about regime actions would be targeted by selective/perverted 'regulation'.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Opinion: Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'
Washington University in St. Louis has built its reputation on a simple ideal: excellence wins. For decades, our researchers have competed for and won federal grants based on the quality
www.stltoday.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Don’t look away.
October 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Don’t look away.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Check out the data paper (open access) and the publicly available data: We hope that many people will use it in their research and for other purposes.
NEW -
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments - https://cup.org/47i6oKQ
- @jacobnyrup.bsky.social, @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social & Ina Lyftingsmo Kristiansen
#OpenAccess
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments - https://cup.org/47i6oKQ
- @jacobnyrup.bsky.social, @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social & Ina Lyftingsmo Kristiansen
#OpenAccess
October 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Check out the data paper (open access) and the publicly available data: We hope that many people will use it in their research and for other purposes.
NDSU has, apparently, hired a professional recruiter to help deal with the whole no demand problem.
October 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
NDSU has, apparently, hired a professional recruiter to help deal with the whole no demand problem.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Hi all. A little clarification: the Purdue student journalists did OFFER to do this but "Unfortunately and understandably, the IDS declined the offer, fearing expulsion of its student leaders and more firings of its professional staff." They printed and delivered a statement of solidarity instead
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
October 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Hi all. A little clarification: the Purdue student journalists did OFFER to do this but "Unfortunately and understandably, the IDS declined the offer, fearing expulsion of its student leaders and more firings of its professional staff." They printed and delivered a statement of solidarity instead
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
There have been 12 players to hit 3+ HR in a Postseason game.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
October 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
There have been 12 players to hit 3+ HR in a Postseason game.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
There have been 16 pitchers to have a Postseason game with 6+ IP, 2 hits or fewer, 10+ K, and 0 runs allowed.
Only one did both on the same night.
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
Those of you at universities might share our recent report on public opinion with their leadership.
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
American Higher Education Barometer
Measuring American Attitudes Towards Higher Education
edbarometer.org
October 18, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Those of you at universities might share our recent report on public opinion with their leadership.
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
There are takeaways that are highly relevant to their choices in the current moment. In particular, there is broad, bipartisan, but latent, support for higher education.
edbarometer.org
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
New data for legislative scholars! Committee Membership Dataset with @bcastanho.bsky.social, @dmpullan.bsky.social and Firuze Taner:
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
GESIS-Suche
doi.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
New data for legislative scholars! Committee Membership Dataset with @bcastanho.bsky.social, @dmpullan.bsky.social and Firuze Taner:
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Committee assignments for all MPs (Wikidata IDs!) in 14 countries
Harmonized roles/policy areas
Data: doi.org/10.7802/2940
Working paper: tinyurl.com/vf54r78p
⬇️
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
One casualty in the Trump administration’s war on higher education is federal funding for area studies. This harms students, scholars, and U.S. national security.
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
Comparative Politics Needs Area Studies, and Area Studies Needs Comparative Politics
If you were a graduate student in political science between 1990 and 2010 or so, you probably experienced some heated debates about the future of area studies and its role in the discipline. This w…
tompepinsky.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
One casualty in the Trump administration’s war on higher education is federal funding for area studies. This harms students, scholars, and U.S. national security.
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
It also comes at a time in which political science and area studies are more compatible than ever before. Read on for new research!
1/
Reposted by Dan Pemstein
2025 isn't over yet but it's unlikely that Twitter will see a resurgence of research discussions.
October 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
2025 isn't over yet but it's unlikely that Twitter will see a resurgence of research discussions.