Dave DeWitt
@davedewitt.bsky.social
WUNC editor. Politics and Higher Education.
Duke University President Vincent Price makes rare remarks on the school's "strategy of silence" (as reported by the Duke Chronicle)
snwrks.co/2eqfhg
snwrks.co/2eqfhg
Price calls terms of Trump’s compact ‘highly problematic,’ declines to take public stance
Price said Duke does not intend to comment publicly on whether it will accept or reject the compact and told faculty members its strategy of “silence” is intentional.
snwrks.co
October 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Duke University President Vincent Price makes rare remarks on the school's "strategy of silence" (as reported by the Duke Chronicle)
snwrks.co/2eqfhg
snwrks.co/2eqfhg
Reposted by Dave DeWitt
Censored from a transgender valedictorian's graduation speech in Fayetteville: The line "transgender people are facing new levels of violence each day, and the voices of transgender children are being overlooked."
www.wunc.org/term/news/20... #ncpol
www.wunc.org/term/news/20... #ncpol
'We won't be silenced': Cumberland County School Board attorney censors transgender valedictorian's high school graduation speech
Gray Byrd had submitted a speech responding to the prompt "striving to excel" — part of the school motto — that included the line "transgender people are facing new levels of violence each day, and th...
www.wunc.org
June 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Censored from a transgender valedictorian's graduation speech in Fayetteville: The line "transgender people are facing new levels of violence each day, and the voices of transgender children are being overlooked."
www.wunc.org/term/news/20... #ncpol
www.wunc.org/term/news/20... #ncpol
Duke Univ. Pres Vincent Price: “We are being forced to reduce the scope of our activities and spending in order to sustain excellence in our core missions.” youtu.be/9vv9zkoDZwE?...
An update from President Vincent Price on Duke’s strategic realignment process
YouTube video by Duke University
youtu.be
June 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Duke Univ. Pres Vincent Price: “We are being forced to reduce the scope of our activities and spending in order to sustain excellence in our core missions.” youtu.be/9vv9zkoDZwE?...
Brendan Rosenblum is one of the Jewish students who held up the American flag a year ago. He had water and food thrown at him and found himself mischaracterized by right-wing media outlets: "No one was there to get honored with a party."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
How their lives changed: Student activist who became symbol for patriotism reflects on year since UNC pro-Palestinian protest
In a two-part series, student activists reflect on their lives one year since UNC-Chapel Hill Polk Place protest. UNC student Brendan Rosenblum was one of the fraternity brothers who held up the Ameri...
www.wunc.org
April 30, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Brendan Rosenblum is one of the Jewish students who held up the American flag a year ago. He had water and food thrown at him and found himself mischaracterized by right-wing media outlets: "No one was there to get honored with a party."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Laura Saavedra Forero was pinned under barricades, arrested and charged, doxed, and had her Morehead Scholarship taken away. Even with everything that’s happened, she says she would not change a thing: “This is the only morally right thing for me to do."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
How their lives changed: Student activist who lost prestigious scholarship reflects on year since UNC pro-Palestinian protest
In a two-part series, student activists reflect on their lives one year since UNC-Chapel Hill Polk Place protest. UNC student Laura Saavedra Forero shares her personal journey in activism leading up t...
www.wunc.org
April 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Laura Saavedra Forero was pinned under barricades, arrested and charged, doxed, and had her Morehead Scholarship taken away. Even with everything that’s happened, she says she would not change a thing: “This is the only morally right thing for me to do."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump ‘Overreach’... including presidents at Duke, Warren Wilson, Davidson, Carolina Christian College... and not a single UNC system chancellor. #ncpol www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump’s ‘Overreach’
The statement came a day after Harvard University sued the administration over its decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding, following the school’s refusal to submit to a list of dema...
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump ‘Overreach’... including presidents at Duke, Warren Wilson, Davidson, Carolina Christian College... and not a single UNC system chancellor. #ncpol www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...
Conservative stalwart Art Pope says about the Trump Tariffs: "I think President Trump and his administration are acting in good faith. I think they're very wrong. And the economy, the real world of price increases and lost jobs, will show that." #ncpol
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Art Pope: Trump tariffs mean ‘there are not good times ahead’
Art Pope, a leader in the North Carolina Republican Party, criticizes Donald Trump's tariffs.
www.wunc.org
April 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Conservative stalwart Art Pope says about the Trump Tariffs: "I think President Trump and his administration are acting in good faith. I think they're very wrong. And the economy, the real world of price increases and lost jobs, will show that." #ncpol
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
"I don't think there's any real desire in our caucus to hear that particular bill," Speaker Destin Hall says about bill filed Monday that would greatly restrict abortions in North Carolina.
From @byadamwagner.bsky.social and Mary Helen Moore. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/2025-04-08/h...
From @byadamwagner.bsky.social and Mary Helen Moore. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/2025-04-08/h...
House Speaker Hall: Bill seeking to ban virtually all abortions in NC will not advance
Members of the NC House Freedom Caucus filed legislation that would ban access to abortion in most cases, including those where a woman is a victim of rape or incest.
www.wunc.org
April 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM
"I don't think there's any real desire in our caucus to hear that particular bill," Speaker Destin Hall says about bill filed Monday that would greatly restrict abortions in North Carolina.
From @byadamwagner.bsky.social and Mary Helen Moore. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/2025-04-08/h...
From @byadamwagner.bsky.social and Mary Helen Moore. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/2025-04-08/h...
The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Civic Life is having some issues.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Resignations, Disagreements With Dean Roil UNC Civics School
UNC professors who supported the initiative when others derided it are resigning and denouncing its leader. It’s an ironic turn for a civil discourse school.
www.insidehighered.com
March 18, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Civic Life is having some issues.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
10/10 on this story in the @ocracokeobserver.bsky.social No notes. Pulitzer should be in the mail for this photo caption alone: "This pizza didn’t fare well during transfer from bobbing boat to the ferry." #Ocracoke
ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/07/f...
ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/07/f...
Ferry stuck in Big Foot Slough shoal for 12 hours
The M/V Silver Lake hits the shoal in Big Foot Slough in the Pamlico Sound just outside Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach By Connie Leinbach Passengers from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter Thursday afternoon o…
ocracokeobserver.com
March 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
10/10 on this story in the @ocracokeobserver.bsky.social No notes. Pulitzer should be in the mail for this photo caption alone: "This pizza didn’t fare well during transfer from bobbing boat to the ferry." #Ocracoke
ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/07/f...
ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/07/f...
Didn't expect to read this in an ESPN story about how UNC landed Belichick: "(Thom) Tillis hung up the phone and immediately called Phil Berger..." "...the push to land Belichick all started with the politicians." #ncpol
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
Power struggles, senators and the chaotic pursuit of a legend: How North Carolina landed Bill Belichick
North Carolina's hiring of Bill Belichick was the stunner of the college football year. Here's how the Tar Heels pulled it off.
www.espn.com
March 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Didn't expect to read this in an ESPN story about how UNC landed Belichick: "(Thom) Tillis hung up the phone and immediately called Phil Berger..." "...the push to land Belichick all started with the politicians." #ncpol
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
Many of the members of NC's Congressional delegation have either changed their public stances on Ukraine since Trump/Vance berated Zelensky, or they are laying low.
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
What North Carolina's Members of Congress think about Ukraine, Trump and Zelensky
A rundown of where North Carolina's Congressional delegation stands on Ukraine, as of Monday, and how those views may have changed after Friday's contentious meeting between Trump and Zelensky.
www.wunc.org
March 4, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Many of the members of NC's Congressional delegation have either changed their public stances on Ukraine since Trump/Vance berated Zelensky, or they are laying low.
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Dave DeWitt
NEW from ME: a Social Security office in Macon County (Franklin) appears to have been targeted for closing by Elon Musk's DOGE.
DOGE website says Franklin’s Social Security office to close
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been eager to propose federal budget cuts that purport to save taxpayers money, but as the proposed cuts trickle down to the neighborhood level — li...
smokymountainnews.com
March 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM
NEW from ME: a Social Security office in Macon County (Franklin) appears to have been targeted for closing by Elon Musk's DOGE.
One week ago, NC Senator Thom Tillis called Putin a "cancer" and the "greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime." No comment from Tillis yet on today's events in the White House. #ncpol
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com
February 28, 2025 at 8:34 PM
One week ago, NC Senator Thom Tillis called Putin a "cancer" and the "greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime." No comment from Tillis yet on today's events in the White House. #ncpol
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Firing young professionals and falsely accusing them of "failing to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment” is incredibly cruel. Whatever your political leanings, who cheers this kind of thing?
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
From 17 to 7 left standing: Trump cuts gut Florida archaeologists, Parks Service staff
A sudden loss of jobs at the National Park Service has some terminated archaeologists rethinking a life of public service.
www.tallahassee.com
February 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Firing young professionals and falsely accusing them of "failing to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment” is incredibly cruel. Whatever your political leanings, who cheers this kind of thing?
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
UNC System President Peter Hans writes in this letter to the US Senate that it is "my honor and pleasure" to recommend Linda McMahon to be the Secretary of Education #ncpol
February 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
UNC System President Peter Hans writes in this letter to the US Senate that it is "my honor and pleasure" to recommend Linda McMahon to be the Secretary of Education #ncpol
Ted Budd said he agreed with Trump.. but he conceded that the universities would need time to adjust to their new financial reality. “There’s great research being done by all of our institutions. We need to protect that. I think the White House wants to protect that.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Republicans Love Trump’s Spending Cuts. Just Not in Their States.
Even as they praise the president’s unilateral actions to slash federal spending, G.O.P. lawmakers have quietly moved to seek carve outs or exemptions for their own constituents.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Ted Budd said he agreed with Trump.. but he conceded that the universities would need time to adjust to their new financial reality. “There’s great research being done by all of our institutions. We need to protect that. I think the White House wants to protect that.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
"...we're hoping that maybe this was just some sort of initial chaos that smooths out. But we're not going to stop sending our authors out to speak about their books and if they run into roadblocks to be able to do that, we're likely to bring voice to that."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Q&A: UNC Press warns of increased silencing of scholars amid 'heightened political tensions'
UNC Press Director John Sherer recently spoke with WUNC higher education reporter Brianna Atkinson about the dangers of silencing authors and the UNC Press' call for collective action against censorsh...
www.wunc.org
February 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
"...we're hoping that maybe this was just some sort of initial chaos that smooths out. But we're not going to stop sending our authors out to speak about their books and if they run into roadblocks to be able to do that, we're likely to bring voice to that."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
The order leaves out states that did not join the lawsuit, which will still face the funding cuts. (North Carolina joined the lawsuit)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Cuts to Medical Research Funding
A coalition of 22 attorneys general sued the federal government, claiming that the $4 billion in cuts would “grind to a halt” studies on cancer, heart disease and other conditions.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The order leaves out states that did not join the lawsuit, which will still face the funding cuts. (North Carolina joined the lawsuit)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
"It's our economic engine for the state. We have huge numbers of workforce that are employed in research-related activities... 14,000 North Carolina employees engaged in research... over 310 businesses we've spun out; $2 billion in North Carolina salaries."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Trump's order to cut NIH research funding would cut millions from NC universities
North Carolina's top research universities could lose millions of dollars in support if a Trump administration revision to funding from the National Institutes of Health holds up.
www.wunc.org
February 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
"It's our economic engine for the state. We have huge numbers of workforce that are employed in research-related activities... 14,000 North Carolina employees engaged in research... over 310 businesses we've spun out; $2 billion in North Carolina salaries."
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Reposted by Dave DeWitt
I wrote late last year on the complex relationship between disaster survivors and the faith based orgs who helped them. Not to negate positive experiences with these groups but to say it’s not the whole story and many survivors do not feel welcomed by them. grist.org/extreme-weat...
Faith organizations have a complex relationship to disaster relief
Church volunteers have played a big role in the wake of Hurricane Helene. But for some survivors, the accompanying proselytizing feels unwanted.
grist.org
February 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I wrote late last year on the complex relationship between disaster survivors and the faith based orgs who helped them. Not to negate positive experiences with these groups but to say it’s not the whole story and many survivors do not feel welcomed by them. grist.org/extreme-weat...
“I think the American people need to understand how devastating it would be if this goes through,” said Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, a Duke University Nobel Prize winner. “A lot of research would just have to stop.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...
Trump Administration Cuts Put Medical Progress at Risk, Researchers Say
Grants from the National Institutes of Health come with additional money for overhead. A planned $4 billion cut would leave colleges with large budget gaps.
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2025 at 8:48 PM
“I think the American people need to understand how devastating it would be if this goes through,” said Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, a Duke University Nobel Prize winner. “A lot of research would just have to stop.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...
It's one ruling in what is still expected to be a protracted legal fight. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Wake judge rules against Republican in hotly contested Supreme Court race
A Wake County Superior Court judge has ruled against Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, who is trying to invalidate more than 65,000 ballots in the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme C...
www.wunc.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
It's one ruling in what is still expected to be a protracted legal fight. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Musk hates Wikipedia for the same reason he hates NPR and public radio - he can't own and control it (and can't fathom that someone isn't profiting from it)
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Elon Musk Wants What He Can’t Have: Wikipedia
Musk and other right-wing tech figures have been on a campaign to delegitimize the digital encyclopedia. What happens if they succeed?
www.theatlantic.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Musk hates Wikipedia for the same reason he hates NPR and public radio - he can't own and control it (and can't fathom that someone isn't profiting from it)
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...