Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
@ericderoulet.bsky.social
Interdisciplinary PhD candidate. Hopefully not a permanent condition.
I research migration, international higher edu., Qing/modern Chinese/Taiwanese intellectual history, and more. Keeper of cats.
https://ericderoulet.scholar.st/
無論什麼時代都在心裡喊叫。
I research migration, international higher edu., Qing/modern Chinese/Taiwanese intellectual history, and more. Keeper of cats.
https://ericderoulet.scholar.st/
無論什麼時代都在心裡喊叫。
Pinned
[REVIEW] “Taiwan’s Political Evolution and the Study of Comparative Politics as seen in 𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑤𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐷𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛” by Eric D. de Roulet
📁 RETURN TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS📁 RETURN TO CHA REVIEW OF BOOKS AND FILMS Ryan Dunch and Ashley Esarey (editors), Taiwan in Dynamic Transition: Nation Building and Democratization,…
chajournal.blog
I have a little book review out in @asiancha.bsky.social on Taiwan in Dynamic Transition by Ryan Dunch and Ashley Esarey (eds.), mainly on how the anthology treats Taiwan as a country worth understanding in its own right and not merely as a subject of great powers conflict.
I'm inclined to think it's the latter (thank the thin libertarian substrate in 21st century Republican ideology, I guess??), with the one caveat that this admin has also recently claimed they're going to do something about rents being too high (which sounds like electoral pandering).
On the Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend, the Department of Education announces that borrowers will not have their wages or tax refunds garnished for being in default on their student loans. This could be driven by political considerations or difficulties in actually collecting funds.
U.S. Department of Education Delays Involuntary Collections Amid Ongoing Student Loan Repayment Improvements
ED announced that it will delay the implementation of involuntary collections on federal student loans, including Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program, to enable the Departm...
www.ed.gov
January 16, 2026 at 10:21 PM
I'm inclined to think it's the latter (thank the thin libertarian substrate in 21st century Republican ideology, I guess??), with the one caveat that this admin has also recently claimed they're going to do something about rents being too high (which sounds like electoral pandering).
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
It’s the latter. And it answers a question I kept posing: how do you punish people with complex bureaucracy if you dismantle…the complex bureaucracy that can punish?
You can’t.
You can’t.
On the Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend, the Department of Education announces that borrowers will not have their wages or tax refunds garnished for being in default on their student loans. This could be driven by political considerations or difficulties in actually collecting funds.
U.S. Department of Education Delays Involuntary Collections Amid Ongoing Student Loan Repayment Improvements
ED announced that it will delay the implementation of involuntary collections on federal student loans, including Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program, to enable the Departm...
www.ed.gov
January 16, 2026 at 9:58 PM
It’s the latter. And it answers a question I kept posing: how do you punish people with complex bureaucracy if you dismantle…the complex bureaucracy that can punish?
You can’t.
You can’t.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
I've increasingly come to view cynicism as the seedbed of totalitarianism, both because it can paralyze the opposition and because it implicitly validates the might-makes-right ethic of the authoritarian.
i have been reading Tom Ricks’ “Fighting the Good War” which is a military analysis of the civil rights movement, and one thing that comes abundantly across is that movement leaders and ordinary people made it a practice to refuse to fall into despair and cynicism.
January 16, 2026 at 5:17 PM
I've increasingly come to view cynicism as the seedbed of totalitarianism, both because it can paralyze the opposition and because it implicitly validates the might-makes-right ethic of the authoritarian.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
always has been though
"China is being used less as a real place than as an abstraction, a way of exposing America’s own shortcomings."
Why Everyone Is Suddenly in a ‘Very Chinese Time’ in Their Lives
The viral meme isn’t really about China or actual Chinese people. It's a symbol of what Americans believe their own country has lost.
www.wired.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:11 PM
always has been though
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
for context here, you also have to remember that Canadian-Chinese relations *cratered* in the last few years as a result of Beijing's hostage diplomacy. That the Canadians now have more trust in China than the United States is quite an achievement by Trump.
Okay this is way bigger than the article below suggested.
"The Prime Minister welcomed President Xi’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China."
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
"The Prime Minister welcomed President Xi’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China."
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
January 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM
for context here, you also have to remember that Canadian-Chinese relations *cratered* in the last few years as a result of Beijing's hostage diplomacy. That the Canadians now have more trust in China than the United States is quite an achievement by Trump.
Happened upon this quote (middle of page) from "The Weight of What Is Hollow" in One Message Remains by @premeemohamed.com.
Hoo boy, has this hit hard again. Doesn't matter that I'm the one quoting the story.
Hoo boy, has this hit hard again. Doesn't matter that I'm the one quoting the story.
January 15, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Happened upon this quote (middle of page) from "The Weight of What Is Hollow" in One Message Remains by @premeemohamed.com.
Hoo boy, has this hit hard again. Doesn't matter that I'm the one quoting the story.
Hoo boy, has this hit hard again. Doesn't matter that I'm the one quoting the story.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
It goes without saying that in the US you’re not supposed to have a masked secret police that snatches people off the streets without knowing if they’ve committed a crime. That’s about as basic a requirement for a democracy as exists.
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
"“They specifically asked me if I knew where the Hmong families lived on my street & in the neighborhood.” Lugert-Thom responded, “I don’t know anything about that” & she said they then asked, “Well, what about the Asian families?”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
January 14, 2026 at 4:48 PM
It goes without saying that in the US you’re not supposed to have a masked secret police that snatches people off the streets without knowing if they’ve committed a crime. That’s about as basic a requirement for a democracy as exists.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
"A recent poll from The Economist/YouGov...shows 46% of Americans support abolishing ICE—not reforming ICE, not improving ICE but actually abolishing ICE. To put that in context: More Americans want to abolish ICE than abolish the IRS, and the IRS has a 120-year headstart on making Americans angry."
Listen to your friend, @drjasonjohnson.bsky.social who agrees Dems need to run against ICE or GTFO:
Opinion | Abolishing ICE is a popular idea Democrats should embrace
Jason Johnson: If Democrats don’t seize this moment, then they shouldn’t call themselves an opposition party.
www.ms.now
January 14, 2026 at 4:55 PM
"A recent poll from The Economist/YouGov...shows 46% of Americans support abolishing ICE—not reforming ICE, not improving ICE but actually abolishing ICE. To put that in context: More Americans want to abolish ICE than abolish the IRS, and the IRS has a 120-year headstart on making Americans angry."
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
There are a lot of good lists out there. This is from someone who I trust to know who is who on the ground and how to best get resources where they need to go.
For ease of navigation and sharing, I have turned my little list into a website: standwithminnesota.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:51 PM
There are a lot of good lists out there. This is from someone who I trust to know who is who on the ground and how to best get resources where they need to go.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
YouGov poll - In the future, would you support or oppose...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
January 12, 2026 at 11:34 PM
YouGov poll - In the future, would you support or oppose...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
36 people have died at ICE's hands in the past year
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
January 8, 2026 at 7:53 PM
36 people have died at ICE's hands in the past year
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
may of these deaths did not happen on camera, but it does not make them any less horrifying and unacceptable
this is a list of their names, where they lived before being abducted, and a link to crowdfunding if i can find it
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
Please read Laurence's wonderful, prize-winning book, which in fact was sparked from that yangbanxi viewing - and led to an honors thesis and a doctoral dissertation on Socialist Chinese cultural forms. www.dukeupress.edu/newborn-soci...
Newborn Socialist Things: Materiality in Maoist China
www.dukeupress.edu
January 8, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Please read Laurence's wonderful, prize-winning book, which in fact was sparked from that yangbanxi viewing - and led to an honors thesis and a doctoral dissertation on Socialist Chinese cultural forms. www.dukeupress.edu/newborn-soci...
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
January 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
Oh my fucking god Doomers shut the fuck up.
I do actually know the ICE budget and *how to analyze it*.
I have *lived experience* standing up to billion $ border policing agencies.
My friends and I have *won* against multi-year sustained policing operations that deployed 30x the resources we had.
I do actually know the ICE budget and *how to analyze it*.
I have *lived experience* standing up to billion $ border policing agencies.
My friends and I have *won* against multi-year sustained policing operations that deployed 30x the resources we had.
January 9, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Oh my fucking god Doomers shut the fuck up.
I do actually know the ICE budget and *how to analyze it*.
I have *lived experience* standing up to billion $ border policing agencies.
My friends and I have *won* against multi-year sustained policing operations that deployed 30x the resources we had.
I do actually know the ICE budget and *how to analyze it*.
I have *lived experience* standing up to billion $ border policing agencies.
My friends and I have *won* against multi-year sustained policing operations that deployed 30x the resources we had.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
i think standing too close to ICE is what has been getting people killed
January 9, 2026 at 6:58 AM
i think standing too close to ICE is what has been getting people killed
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
"Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
(Published Oct. 2025)
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
(Published Oct. 2025)
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM
"Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
(Published Oct. 2025)
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
(Published Oct. 2025)
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
I am impeaching Secretary Kristi Noem, who is an incompetent leader and a disgrace to our democracy.
She wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area and has brought her reign of terror to Minneapolis. One of her rogue ICE agents shot and killed an innocent woman today. It must come to an end.
She wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area and has brought her reign of terror to Minneapolis. One of her rogue ICE agents shot and killed an innocent woman today. It must come to an end.
January 8, 2026 at 12:00 AM
I am impeaching Secretary Kristi Noem, who is an incompetent leader and a disgrace to our democracy.
She wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area and has brought her reign of terror to Minneapolis. One of her rogue ICE agents shot and killed an innocent woman today. It must come to an end.
She wreaked havoc in the Chicagoland area and has brought her reign of terror to Minneapolis. One of her rogue ICE agents shot and killed an innocent woman today. It must come to an end.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
600+ people still showed up for Legal Observers training in Minneapolis tonight.
In addition to those currently on patrol. This minute.
While the vigil is happening in South Mpls.
In addition to those currently on patrol. This minute.
While the vigil is happening in South Mpls.
January 8, 2026 at 1:15 AM
600+ people still showed up for Legal Observers training in Minneapolis tonight.
In addition to those currently on patrol. This minute.
While the vigil is happening in South Mpls.
In addition to those currently on patrol. This minute.
While the vigil is happening in South Mpls.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
Brazil did something that few democracies achieve: It convicted a former president of attempting a coup. How did the country’s courts hold would-be autocrat Jair Bolsonaro accountable when so many other coup plotters go unpunished?
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
January 7, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Brazil did something that few democracies achieve: It convicted a former president of attempting a coup. How did the country’s courts hold would-be autocrat Jair Bolsonaro accountable when so many other coup plotters go unpunished?
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
We’re going to need DDR and a future government that knows it will need expert help from transitional justice specialists
January 7, 2026 at 9:06 PM
We’re going to need DDR and a future government that knows it will need expert help from transitional justice specialists
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
americans, please do not stop showing up at ICE raids. please do not let your administration intimidate you into silence. please do not allow this to become normal.
show the fuck up in numbers. strike. riot. disrupt. this is your fucking moment to fight against fascism and authoritarianism.
show the fuck up in numbers. strike. riot. disrupt. this is your fucking moment to fight against fascism and authoritarianism.
January 7, 2026 at 9:57 PM
americans, please do not stop showing up at ICE raids. please do not let your administration intimidate you into silence. please do not allow this to become normal.
show the fuck up in numbers. strike. riot. disrupt. this is your fucking moment to fight against fascism and authoritarianism.
show the fuck up in numbers. strike. riot. disrupt. this is your fucking moment to fight against fascism and authoritarianism.
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
I have written about how state violence is well tuned to justify its perpetual killing tendency the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io/the-state-vi...
The State Violence Apologia Machine
Support my Writing with a Tip
We have this structured and almost procedural cycle of protest violence in the United States a lot. It goes like this:
1. Grievances bubble up en masse, and people the...
the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io
January 7, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I have written about how state violence is well tuned to justify its perpetual killing tendency the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io/the-state-vi...
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
Talking about better training has to be the weakest fucking response to an agent of the state murdering someone and the administration smearing the dead woman as a domestic terrorist
January 7, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Talking about better training has to be the weakest fucking response to an agent of the state murdering someone and the administration smearing the dead woman as a domestic terrorist
Reposted by Eric D. de Roulet (should be writing)
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 2:26 AM
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov