jon ben-menachem
@jbenmenachem.com
criminalization, abolition, labor, politics, journalism—social science theory & methods too. sociology phd candidate @ columbia. @swcolumbia.bsky.social
Pinned
jon ben-menachem
@jbenmenachem.com
· Dec 8
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
the specific doge teens who found some real stems and seeds bullshit in DC should get the presidential medal of freedom
February 9, 2026 at 5:41 PM
the specific doge teens who found some real stems and seeds bullshit in DC should get the presidential medal of freedom
Last thing I’ll say for now on reefer madness is that if you care about safe substance use then you should support the regulation of supply, i.e., legalization.
February 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Last thing I’ll say for now on reefer madness is that if you care about safe substance use then you should support the regulation of supply, i.e., legalization.
Genuinely makes me wonder if people have ever met an alcoholic before
maybe the most upsetting and nefarious thing that the NYT does here, backed by predictable quasi-prohibitionist healthcare sources and reporting, is insist on equating cannabis addiction to alcohol addiction, in terms of severity or damages. It’s frankly offensive to anyone who grew up with drunks.
February 9, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Genuinely makes me wonder if people have ever met an alcoholic before
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
The @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social portal that drew 80,000 enthused NYers to city government has resulted in just 31 hires, largely because most city jobs are civil service.
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
80,000 People Applied to Work for Mamdani. City Hall Has Hired Just 31 of Them.
The successful 0.039% includes new Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn — a DOT veteran who had also been selected as a member of Mamdani’s transition team..
www.thecity.nyc
February 6, 2026 at 9:31 PM
The @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social portal that drew 80,000 enthused NYers to city government has resulted in just 31 hires, largely because most city jobs are civil service.
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
I admit to being confused by some of the discourse re: protest on here. Community defense and mutual aid can in fact be forms of protest.
Definition of protest is: "a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something."
Community defense is an objection to something, for ex.
Definition of protest is: "a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something."
Community defense is an objection to something, for ex.
February 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I admit to being confused by some of the discourse re: protest on here. Community defense and mutual aid can in fact be forms of protest.
Definition of protest is: "a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something."
Community defense is an objection to something, for ex.
Definition of protest is: "a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something."
Community defense is an objection to something, for ex.
Personally I would have preferred to not lose heat and hot water in 5 degree weather
February 8, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Personally I would have preferred to not lose heat and hot water in 5 degree weather
Braved the cold to check out the new Studio Museum space. So glad they’re back
February 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Braved the cold to check out the new Studio Museum space. So glad they’re back
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Minneapolis police are now showing up with riot cops to stop peaceful potluck protests now. All in service to protecting fascist death squads.
Minneapolis police are fully pro fascist violence and against protestors
Minneapolis police are fully pro fascist violence and against protestors
February 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Minneapolis police are now showing up with riot cops to stop peaceful potluck protests now. All in service to protecting fascist death squads.
Minneapolis police are fully pro fascist violence and against protestors
Minneapolis police are fully pro fascist violence and against protestors
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
No, they cannot be reformed.
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"No, you can't leave that here."
"No, you can't leave that here."
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Are you travelling to engage in abuse of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication?"
"Are you travelling to engage in abuse of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication?"
February 7, 2026 at 6:22 PM
No, they cannot be reformed.
rekt lmao
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
*ahem*
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
*ahem*
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
February 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
rekt lmao
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Pennsylvania GOP state rep. Joanne Stehr on the concentration camps being built in her area: “I’m saying ICE has a job to do, and it’s going to get done. We are taking out the trash.”
From Big Lots to warehousing humans: ICE plan sparks fear in Schuylkill County | Will Bunch
A massive warehouse in Tremont, Pa., that once moved cheap goods will now detain migrants in a $119 million ICE deal.
www.inquirer.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Pennsylvania GOP state rep. Joanne Stehr on the concentration camps being built in her area: “I’m saying ICE has a job to do, and it’s going to get done. We are taking out the trash.”
I should have done time tracking to see how long I've spent on job applications
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I should have done time tracking to see how long I've spent on job applications
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
I don’t know if this counts as a watershed moment or whatever but it is significant that even the NYT has to drop the pretense and call it what it is.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
February 6, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I don’t know if this counts as a watershed moment or whatever but it is significant that even the NYT has to drop the pretense and call it what it is.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
the number of academics who were in touch with Epstein really puts the (elite) backlash to Title IX's enforcement against sexual violence into perspective.
DiChristina also invited Epstein to attend an editorial meeting for the Scientific American, where she worked as editor-in-chief.
Correspondence from 2010 also showed DiChristina on a guest list for a meeting on “the islands,” though it was not immediately clear what Epstein meant by “islands.”
Correspondence from 2010 also showed DiChristina on a guest list for a meeting on “the islands,” though it was not immediately clear what Epstein meant by “islands.”
BU COM dean corresponded extensively with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014 and 2015, files show
Mariette DiChristina, dean of Boston University’s College of Communication, corresponded extensively with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014 and 2015. The two set up a one-on-one meeting, had “phone dates” and D...
dailyfreepress.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:24 AM
the number of academics who were in touch with Epstein really puts the (elite) backlash to Title IX's enforcement against sexual violence into perspective.
Important to run a candidate who has actually held elected office in New York before, i.e., someone who has even the vaguest chance of winning
As someone who was up close + active in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 races, I can tell you from direct experience that the Dem primary for governor is the single-most important determinant of NY's political direction for the next 4 years. If we don't fight this year, NYS will likely move to the right.
February 5, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Important to run a candidate who has actually held elected office in New York before, i.e., someone who has even the vaguest chance of winning
Recalling a recent conversation wherein the prospect of tenure no longer existing in red states was called alarmism
Breaking, from me: An executive order from Oklahoma's governor directs most of the state's public colleges to "phase out tenure." #AcademicSky #HigherEd @chronicle.com
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
Tenure Will Be Eliminated at Most of Oklahoma’s Public Colleges, Governor Says
Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, directed the state’s two-dozen regional universities and community colleges to phase out the practice. Existing faculty members will be grandfathered in.
www.chronicle.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Recalling a recent conversation wherein the prospect of tenure no longer existing in red states was called alarmism
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
"Lizzie's a terrific reporter who's done great work in a very difficult situation for us, and I'm incredibly grateful to her and in awe of her courage and her talent. I don't blame her for being upset. That's a natural reaction, and it's understandable," Matt Murray on firing a reporter in Ukraine.
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 PM
"Lizzie's a terrific reporter who's done great work in a very difficult situation for us, and I'm incredibly grateful to her and in awe of her courage and her talent. I don't blame her for being upset. That's a natural reaction, and it's understandable," Matt Murray on firing a reporter in Ukraine.
I feel like what we consider reactionary is what they consider tech optimism
my theory why tech bros have gone insane is that tech optimism was their fuel for awhile. that began to fade as the future was looking less utopian and was obviously always about getting infinite money. when the public began to turn on big tech, tech turned to reactionary ideology to fill the void
February 5, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I feel like what we consider reactionary is what they consider tech optimism
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
I used to love computer it was my friend. Now I have hate in my heart
February 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
I used to love computer it was my friend. Now I have hate in my heart
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
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!
This is the correct frame—SRG as the specific organizational unit is not the issue, it’s the people in the unit and their actions that are the issue
The calls are growing louder to disband the brutal and unaccountable Strategic Response Group once and for all. But former Officer Raganella is right: We must go even further and ensure that the SRG can't be re-formed under a new name.
That's where the CURB Act comes in.
That's where the CURB Act comes in.
He helped create an NYPD unit to respond to protests. Now, he's calling for its overhaul.
The NYPD’s Strategic Response Group has been criticized by civil liberties groups and others who have accused officers of brutality while responding to protests.
gothamist.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:44 PM
This is the correct frame—SRG as the specific organizational unit is not the issue, it’s the people in the unit and their actions that are the issue
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
@ethanscorey.bsky.social and I have published a database of congressmembers who take money from GEO Group + CoreCivic. Find out if your reps have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE’s mass deportation efforts. Published in @theappeal.org + @inthesetimes.com. theappeal.org/ice-cold-cas...
ICE-Cold Cash: Private Prison Companies and Executives Have Donated Millions to Members of Congress
Find out if your representatives have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE’s mass deportation efforts.
theappeal.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:16 PM
@ethanscorey.bsky.social and I have published a database of congressmembers who take money from GEO Group + CoreCivic. Find out if your reps have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE’s mass deportation efforts. Published in @theappeal.org + @inthesetimes.com. theappeal.org/ice-cold-cas...
Actually hard to imagine any progressive other than Zohran himself having a real shot at that office in the near future.
I'm endorsing Gov. @KathyHochul because she's someone willing to engage in honest dialogue that delivers results.
Along with the movement that powered our campaign, it's how we secured a historic agreement on childcare. And we're just getting started.
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Along with the movement that powered our campaign, it's how we secured a historic agreement on childcare. And we're just getting started.
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Zohran Mamdani: Why I'm Endorsing Kathy Hochul
Exclusive: New York City's mayor explains why he's backing New York's governor in the 2026 election.
www.thenation.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Actually hard to imagine any progressive other than Zohran himself having a real shot at that office in the near future.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Remember this is a guy who named a programming system that he developed after a porn actress because he thought it was a funny way to mock a female pioneer in his field.
February 5, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Remember this is a guy who named a programming system that he developed after a porn actress because he thought it was a funny way to mock a female pioneer in his field.