Beth Popp Berman
@epopppp.bsky.social
Professor @ a large Midwestern U
Author of Thinking like an Economist, Creating the Market University
Trying to understand how ideas about economic value have shaped capitalism + its regulation, from the first Gilded Age to the second
Have more hair now
Author of Thinking like an Economist, Creating the Market University
Trying to understand how ideas about economic value have shaped capitalism + its regulation, from the first Gilded Age to the second
Have more hair now
The unexpected lessons we can learn from the 2020 Census on how to handle election subversion threats.
The bind that state election officials find themselves in (needing to challenge attempts at election subversion while not repeating the threats in a way that demobilizes) is very similar to the challenge states, cities, and NGOs faced in during the 2020 Census. A few thoughts on this. / 1
February 6, 2026 at 5:29 PM
The unexpected lessons we can learn from the 2020 Census on how to handle election subversion threats.
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The point for SpaceX is once it's in mainstream indexes, index investors functionally are forced to buy. They cannot sell. And since Musk will control voting, they will have no rights at all. Functionally forced to supply capital.
www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...
www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...
Exclusive | SpaceX Seeks Early Index Entry as It Prepares Massive IPO
Advisers to company CEO Elon Musk have reached out to major index providers seeking ways to secure earlier inclusion in market benchmarks to lift shares
www.wsj.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:24 AM
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Okay I really appreciate this deep dive on the economics of whistle-printing
I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
I mean, are they really cheaper or easier to produce than just sourcing the right thing from a mass distributor? it's sweet but doesn't seem Pareto efficient, and I feel like that's important to the revolution
February 4, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Okay I really appreciate this deep dive on the economics of whistle-printing
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Important read.
One key recommendation:
One key recommendation:
February 4, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Important read.
One key recommendation:
One key recommendation:
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Today I'm releasing probably the most important scholarly thing I've ever worked on - a report based on talking with 144 people about why they don't vote or only vote regularly, and on what needs to be done to build a democracy that can include everyone.
www.swarthmore.edu/u...
please share!
www.swarthmore.edu/u...
please share!
February 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Today I'm releasing probably the most important scholarly thing I've ever worked on - a report based on talking with 144 people about why they don't vote or only vote regularly, and on what needs to be done to build a democracy that can include everyone.
www.swarthmore.edu/u...
please share!
www.swarthmore.edu/u...
please share!
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
ICE at the polls! Bannon is basically yelling โfireโ in a crowded theater here. His objective is to cause chaos (and suppress votes on the left). And itโs already working.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesnโt have to be โrealโ to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesnโt have to be โrealโ to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
Steve Bannon says the federal government is planning to send ICE officers to patrol polling stations during the midterms.
"We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November."
"We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
"We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November."
"We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will โsurround the pollsโ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference.ย โIf you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,โ Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
ICE at the polls! Bannon is basically yelling โfireโ in a crowded theater here. His objective is to cause chaos (and suppress votes on the left). And itโs already working.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesnโt have to be โrealโ to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
This threat works on multiple levels and doesnโt have to be โrealโ to serve its purpose.
Let me explain & offer some advice.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
The last time he started talking like this, his allies minimized the risks and we ended up with January 6. This time we must take him literally and seriously. These comments are a five-alarm fire for democracy. In a functioning republic, he would be impeached and removed from office today.
February 2, 2026 at 9:04 PM
The last time he started talking like this, his allies minimized the risks and we ended up with January 6. This time we must take him literally and seriously. These comments are a five-alarm fire for democracy. In a functioning republic, he would be impeached and removed from office today.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Probably a day to promote this research from David Cortez. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 1, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Probably a day to promote this research from David Cortez. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
It is understandably all politics these days, but I do appreciate when research can at least inform politics!
February 1, 2026 at 10:33 PM
It is understandably all politics these days, but I do appreciate when research can at least inform politics!
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Could I add another one?
The Line Becomes a River book by Francisco Cantรบ
Buy a cheap copy of The Line Becomes a River book by Francisco Cantรบ. The instant New York Times bestseller, A must-read for anyone who thinks 'build a wall is the answer to anything. --Esquire For Fr...
www.thriftbooks.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Could I add another one?
For those commenting on the agents' surnames.
February 1, 2026 at 10:14 PM
For those commenting on the agents' surnames.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
meanwhile, I'm teaching my PhD econ course on the Political Economy of Corporations this semester, so re-sharing the publicly-available "Political Economy of Corporations Curriculum"
lenorepalladino.notion.site/Political-Ec...
lenorepalladino.notion.site/Political-Ec...
Zotero | Your personal research assistant
www.zotero.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:55 PM
meanwhile, I'm teaching my PhD econ course on the Political Economy of Corporations this semester, so re-sharing the publicly-available "Political Economy of Corporations Curriculum"
lenorepalladino.notion.site/Political-Ec...
lenorepalladino.notion.site/Political-Ec...
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Federal deployment to Minneapolis "is steady state and expected to continue as planned," per Border Patrol memo leaked to me
January 27, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Federal deployment to Minneapolis "is steady state and expected to continue as planned," per Border Patrol memo leaked to me
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
Not the best timing for a celebration, but I've defended my dissertation on origins of egalitarian education reforms. Deeply grateful to my committee: Angie, Aaron, Peter, and @epopppp.bsky.social. Thanks to other mentors including @mivich.bsky.social for her @asa-ipm.bsky.social mentorship.
Dismantling Distinction: Elite Realignments and Educational Equalization in South Korea, 1945โ1974
Sociological scholarship on educational inequality demonstrates how the structural organization of educational access can exacerbate, perpetuate, or mitigate the unequal distribution of opportunities....
scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu
January 27, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Not the best timing for a celebration, but I've defended my dissertation on origins of egalitarian education reforms. Deeply grateful to my committee: Angie, Aaron, Peter, and @epopppp.bsky.social. Thanks to other mentors including @mivich.bsky.social for her @asa-ipm.bsky.social mentorship.
Congratulations again, Jiwon -- always worth celebrating ๐๐พ
January 27, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Congratulations again, Jiwon -- always worth celebrating ๐๐พ
Pretty sure "the rights" is not what it was paying for.
Boxoffice dot com projects $1 million to $2 million in opening weekend ticket sales forย "Melania". Bezos' company MGM paid $40 million for the rights
January 26, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Pretty sure "the rights" is not what it was paying for.
It's hard to watch billionaires systematically dismantle what real news we have left.
January 26, 2026 at 10:03 PM
It's hard to watch billionaires systematically dismantle what real news we have left.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
BREAKING: The National Basketball Players Association issues statement on ICE killings in Minnesota.
โ[W]e refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.โ
โ[W]e refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.โ
January 25, 2026 at 9:07 PM
BREAKING: The National Basketball Players Association issues statement on ICE killings in Minnesota.
โ[W]e refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.โ
โ[W]e refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.โ
"In St. Paul, at least one-fourth of students from Spanish-speaking homes have missed every day of school since Dec. 12."
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota โข Minnesota Reformer
Frank has a hard time explaining to his 8-year-old daughter why they rarely leave their home in the Twin Cities. Why she canโt go to school, and why he canโt work. โThe only thing we tell her is that ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:42 PM
"In St. Paul, at least one-fourth of students from Spanish-speaking homes have missed every day of school since Dec. 12."
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
just to make that clear for the rest of the world, that's -9 degrees *fahrenheit.* -23 degrees *celsius*.
Itโs -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:31 PM
just to make that clear for the rest of the world, that's -9 degrees *fahrenheit.* -23 degrees *celsius*.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
I met an absolutely lovely academic who asked whether my department back home is affected by ICE -- a question dramatizing how little info is getting out.
For the record, the small example I chose:
My dept has a carpool to pick up grad students of color who can't safely commute to campus alone.
For the record, the small example I chose:
My dept has a carpool to pick up grad students of color who can't safely commute to campus alone.
January 22, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I met an absolutely lovely academic who asked whether my department back home is affected by ICE -- a question dramatizing how little info is getting out.
For the record, the small example I chose:
My dept has a carpool to pick up grad students of color who can't safely commute to campus alone.
For the record, the small example I chose:
My dept has a carpool to pick up grad students of color who can't safely commute to campus alone.
Reposted by Beth Popp Berman
I know people keep saying this but itโs hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, Iโm on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. Itโs wild. Absolutely wild.
January 22, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I know people keep saying this but itโs hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, Iโm on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. Itโs wild. Absolutely wild.
Constant churn of craziness to cover
January 22, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Constant churn of craziness to cover
Have been thinking about you and your work in particular, hope you're holding up
January 21, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Have been thinking about you and your work in particular, hope you're holding up