Joey Fishkin
@fishkin.bsky.social
Law prof @ UCLA. I study equality and oligarchy.
Most recent book @ https://anti-oligarchy.com
Most recent book @ https://anti-oligarchy.com
Pinned
Joey Fishkin
@fishkin.bsky.social
· Oct 22
The Inequality Podcast - Stone Center
stonecenter.uchicago.edu
@durlauf.bsky.social interviewed me for his terrific Inequality Podcast, which highlights different scholars' work on inequality.
It was a fun conversation—and if you'd like an introduction to my work, this is a great place to look (or listen).
Discusses both bottlenecks and oligarchy!
It was a fun conversation—and if you'd like an introduction to my work, this is a great place to look (or listen).
Discusses both bottlenecks and oligarchy!
I have no information beyond what is public, but the implosion at the National Constitution Center feels oddly evocative of the many failures of our constitutional system—which includes all manner of institutions beyond the courts—to meet this moment, at the moment.
Leadership Dispute Said to Spur Abrupt Exit at the National Constitution Center
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:23 PM
I have no information beyond what is public, but the implosion at the National Constitution Center feels oddly evocative of the many failures of our constitutional system—which includes all manner of institutions beyond the courts—to meet this moment, at the moment.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Oh I love this.
DHS getting basic 4th Amendment law wrong on its official Twitter account.
Seems like this post is bound to show up as an exhibit in one of the cases challenging ICE/Border Control enforcement actions.
Seems like this post is bound to show up as an exhibit in one of the cases challenging ICE/Border Control enforcement actions.
January 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Oh I love this.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Last week I asked BOP officials if they had sent tactical teams to Minneapolis. They denied it (left).
Multiple agency sources told me otherwise, and photos from
reporters on the ground soon confirmed BOP folks were there.
Now BOP is finally admitting it (right):
Multiple agency sources told me otherwise, and photos from
reporters on the ground soon confirmed BOP folks were there.
Now BOP is finally admitting it (right):
January 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Last week I asked BOP officials if they had sent tactical teams to Minneapolis. They denied it (left).
Multiple agency sources told me otherwise, and photos from
reporters on the ground soon confirmed BOP folks were there.
Now BOP is finally admitting it (right):
Multiple agency sources told me otherwise, and photos from
reporters on the ground soon confirmed BOP folks were there.
Now BOP is finally admitting it (right):
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Everyone (my age and younger) who’s close to their dad should thank the women’s movement
Older generations spent a lot less time parenting. Millennial dads spend nearly as much time parenting as Boomer moms did. Millennial and Gen X moms way more.
via The Economist
via The Economist
January 15, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Everyone (my age and younger) who’s close to their dad should thank the women’s movement
To be clear: he is really not going to succeed in cancelling the midterms.
But he is indeed interested in "exploring" this in his usual predatory, aggressive way. One important response is ridicule and pointing out his impotence.
But he is indeed interested in "exploring" this in his usual predatory, aggressive way. One important response is ridicule and pointing out his impotence.
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 10:23 PM
To be clear: he is really not going to succeed in cancelling the midterms.
But he is indeed interested in "exploring" this in his usual predatory, aggressive way. One important response is ridicule and pointing out his impotence.
But he is indeed interested in "exploring" this in his usual predatory, aggressive way. One important response is ridicule and pointing out his impotence.
Among moderate Dems, it seems like “cut ICE funding” would be a solid moderate position right now. Don’t reward this agency’s conduct; instead penalize it. Less of this not more.
If they won’t, they are insufficiently nimble — it’s a lack of political skills as much as any ideological issue.
If they won’t, they are insufficiently nimble — it’s a lack of political skills as much as any ideological issue.
Specifically, David Shor is explicitly saying that AOC's message that "Republicans are cutting healthcare to fund ICE, and therefore Democrats should cut ICE funding" is the most popular message among voters
January 15, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Among moderate Dems, it seems like “cut ICE funding” would be a solid moderate position right now. Don’t reward this agency’s conduct; instead penalize it. Less of this not more.
If they won’t, they are insufficiently nimble — it’s a lack of political skills as much as any ideological issue.
If they won’t, they are insufficiently nimble — it’s a lack of political skills as much as any ideological issue.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Holy hell, what an obituary
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Imagine doing a PhD in electricity, just so you knew how to blow up nuclear power plants and heavy water-producing facilities.
“I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them... I am not a pacifist.”
A profile in absolute courage.
“I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them... I am not a pacifist.”
A profile in absolute courage.
January 15, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Imagine doing a PhD in electricity, just so you knew how to blow up nuclear power plants and heavy water-producing facilities.
“I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them... I am not a pacifist.”
A profile in absolute courage.
“I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them... I am not a pacifist.”
A profile in absolute courage.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Thought @nytpitchbot.bsky.social had outdone itself, but no, it’s real: NYTimes sent four reporters to a town 150 miles from Minneapolis to interview a group of folks at the Ye Olde Pickle Factory bar while they drink beer at 10am and watch The Price Is Right and share deep political thoughts.
One State, Two Very Different Views of Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Thought @nytpitchbot.bsky.social had outdone itself, but no, it’s real: NYTimes sent four reporters to a town 150 miles from Minneapolis to interview a group of folks at the Ye Olde Pickle Factory bar while they drink beer at 10am and watch The Price Is Right and share deep political thoughts.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
There are cases in which "politics," by itself, doesn't explain what the Supreme Court is doing. But the trans sports ban cases are not complicated. The GOP has spent years cranking out anti-trans propaganda, and the conservative justices have absorbed it, because they are part of that movement.
How the Conservative Movement’s Anti-Trans Crusade Brought the Supreme Court to Heel
Six years ago, the Court issued a landmark decision protecting the civil rights of trans people. Republicans set about making sure that that would never happen again.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 15, 2026 at 4:19 PM
There are cases in which "politics," by itself, doesn't explain what the Supreme Court is doing. But the trans sports ban cases are not complicated. The GOP has spent years cranking out anti-trans propaganda, and the conservative justices have absorbed it, because they are part of that movement.
Huge victory today for the future of the Westside of LA—and the future of UCLA.
The LA Metro planning committee, following the Metro staff recommendation, is approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that is a FAST SUBWAY with automated trains, from Van Nuys through UCLA down to the D and E lines.
The LA Metro planning committee, following the Metro staff recommendation, is approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that is a FAST SUBWAY with automated trains, from Van Nuys through UCLA down to the D and E lines.
January 14, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Huge victory today for the future of the Westside of LA—and the future of UCLA.
The LA Metro planning committee, following the Metro staff recommendation, is approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that is a FAST SUBWAY with automated trains, from Van Nuys through UCLA down to the D and E lines.
The LA Metro planning committee, following the Metro staff recommendation, is approving a Locally Preferred Alternative that is a FAST SUBWAY with automated trains, from Van Nuys through UCLA down to the D and E lines.
Such an important episode and so obscure today. A great thread at the right time by @adambonica.bsky.social.
I increasingly think the right policy is to unwind the entire reorganization that created DHS. Unifying all these disparate functions in one department creates opportunities for mischief.
I increasingly think the right policy is to unwind the entire reorganization that created DHS. Unifying all these disparate functions in one department creates opportunities for mischief.
1/ I recently wrote about Frances Perkins—FDR’s Labor Secretary and first woman cabinet member. She is best known as the architect of the New Deal but she had a lesser-known achievement:
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
January 14, 2026 at 6:21 AM
Such an important episode and so obscure today. A great thread at the right time by @adambonica.bsky.social.
I increasingly think the right policy is to unwind the entire reorganization that created DHS. Unifying all these disparate functions in one department creates opportunities for mischief.
I increasingly think the right policy is to unwind the entire reorganization that created DHS. Unifying all these disparate functions in one department creates opportunities for mischief.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
1/ I recently wrote about Frances Perkins—FDR’s Labor Secretary and first woman cabinet member. She is best known as the architect of the New Deal but she had a lesser-known achievement:
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
January 14, 2026 at 3:43 AM
1/ I recently wrote about Frances Perkins—FDR’s Labor Secretary and first woman cabinet member. She is best known as the architect of the New Deal but she had a lesser-known achievement:
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
This seems potentially important. I wonder what the numbers would look like if all Democrats started to actually argue for this position that currently has plurality support n this poll.
Wow — New YouGov / Economist poll:
46% support abolishing ICE
43% oppose abolishing ICE
This is the first time that abolishing ICE has received net positive support
46% support abolishing ICE
43% oppose abolishing ICE
This is the first time that abolishing ICE has received net positive support
January 14, 2026 at 4:55 AM
This seems potentially important. I wonder what the numbers would look like if all Democrats started to actually argue for this position that currently has plurality support n this poll.
Important thread.
over the course of 1871, congress held seven months of hearings on ku klux klan and other white vigilante violence in the south, they took detailed testimony from hundreds of black men and women attesting to klan terror. (1/?)
January 14, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Important thread.
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
over the course of 1871, congress held seven months of hearings on ku klux klan and other white vigilante violence in the south, they took detailed testimony from hundreds of black men and women attesting to klan terror. (1/?)
January 14, 2026 at 2:06 AM
over the course of 1871, congress held seven months of hearings on ku klux klan and other white vigilante violence in the south, they took detailed testimony from hundreds of black men and women attesting to klan terror. (1/?)
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Man, she was literally killed while doing ICE monitoring
Killed FOR doing ICE monitoring!
That's the POINT, that's why it's so chilling, they're claiming a right to kill citizen-observers in cold blood
Killed FOR doing ICE monitoring!
That's the POINT, that's why it's so chilling, they're claiming a right to kill citizen-observers in cold blood
your journalists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could they didn't stop to think if they should
January 14, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Man, she was literally killed while doing ICE monitoring
Killed FOR doing ICE monitoring!
That's the POINT, that's why it's so chilling, they're claiming a right to kill citizen-observers in cold blood
Killed FOR doing ICE monitoring!
That's the POINT, that's why it's so chilling, they're claiming a right to kill citizen-observers in cold blood
I've got an idea: how about a law that arbitrarily discriminates against just one person. 99.999%+ of people are not affected so maybe nobody can challenge it, according to vague rumblings I'm hearing from SCOTUS today.
Then, I guess, write another law to discriminate against the next person...?
Then, I guess, write another law to discriminate against the next person...?
January 13, 2026 at 8:02 PM
I've got an idea: how about a law that arbitrarily discriminates against just one person. 99.999%+ of people are not affected so maybe nobody can challenge it, according to vague rumblings I'm hearing from SCOTUS today.
Then, I guess, write another law to discriminate against the next person...?
Then, I guess, write another law to discriminate against the next person...?
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
January 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
It raises odd questions about which countries—according to the logic of the current administration—should have the right or duty to attack the United States in response to U.S. federal forces killing protesters.
Obviously, I am not hoping for this, just trying to follow the administration's logic.
Obviously, I am not hoping for this, just trying to follow the administration's logic.
Q: How many protesters have been killed in Iran.
TRUMP: Nobody has been able to give me an accurate number. Everything is a lot. One is a lot.
TRUMP: Nobody has been able to give me an accurate number. Everything is a lot. One is a lot.
January 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM
It raises odd questions about which countries—according to the logic of the current administration—should have the right or duty to attack the United States in response to U.S. federal forces killing protesters.
Obviously, I am not hoping for this, just trying to follow the administration's logic.
Obviously, I am not hoping for this, just trying to follow the administration's logic.
I don't generally spend my days reposting or pointing out antisemitism on the far right. I mean, water is wet, etc.
But we're in such an upside-down world, with "antisemitism" (defined as anybody to the left of Bibi) invoked as a pretext by the right and the far right, that occasionally I post...
But we're in such an upside-down world, with "antisemitism" (defined as anybody to the left of Bibi) invoked as a pretext by the right and the far right, that occasionally I post...
Fundraiser for Minneapolis ICE shooter that’s already raised $178,000 casually points out that the mayor is Jewish 😬
January 13, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I don't generally spend my days reposting or pointing out antisemitism on the far right. I mean, water is wet, etc.
But we're in such an upside-down world, with "antisemitism" (defined as anybody to the left of Bibi) invoked as a pretext by the right and the far right, that occasionally I post...
But we're in such an upside-down world, with "antisemitism" (defined as anybody to the left of Bibi) invoked as a pretext by the right and the far right, that occasionally I post...
Reposted by Joey Fishkin
Fundraiser for Minneapolis ICE shooter that’s already raised $178,000 casually points out that the mayor is Jewish 😬
January 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Fundraiser for Minneapolis ICE shooter that’s already raised $178,000 casually points out that the mayor is Jewish 😬
These people (especially obviously Hegseth) are so determined to commit war crimes—becuase it is their idea of what a manly military does—that they are teaching all of us the names of war crimes we couldn't even have named. Anyone with a moral compass could have said this is not ok, but:
PERFIDY
PERFIDY
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:46 AM
These people (especially obviously Hegseth) are so determined to commit war crimes—becuase it is their idea of what a manly military does—that they are teaching all of us the names of war crimes we couldn't even have named. Anyone with a moral compass could have said this is not ok, but:
PERFIDY
PERFIDY
Most important line is at the end: "I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do."
The Senate.
In other words, there are federal authorities other than the President. I answer to them. Article I exists.
These days that's a more or less direct shot at the Supreme Court majority...
The Senate.
In other words, there are federal authorities other than the President. I answer to them. Article I exists.
These days that's a more or less direct shot at the Supreme Court majority...
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:01 AM
Most important line is at the end: "I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do."
The Senate.
In other words, there are federal authorities other than the President. I answer to them. Article I exists.
These days that's a more or less direct shot at the Supreme Court majority...
The Senate.
In other words, there are federal authorities other than the President. I answer to them. Article I exists.
These days that's a more or less direct shot at the Supreme Court majority...