Julie Novkov
jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov
@jnovkov.bsky.social

Academic (poli sci, law, and US political development), administrator, gymnastics fan, resident of upstate New York. Go Great Danes! Views expressed here are solely my personal opinions. Born at 321 PPM CO2. #polisky #skystorians .. more

Julie Novkov is an American political scientist, currently a professor of political science and women's, gender, and sexuality studies at the University at Albany, SUNY. She studies the history of American law, American political development, and subordinated identities, with a focus on how laws are used for social control while also being affected by social reform movements. .. more

Political science 54%
Law 14%

OMG, they . . . read it????
heads up #polisky - APSA moved the deadline for the Spring Centennial Center grants to March 15, 2026.

NTT, contingent, non-PhD dept faculty, and grad students are all eligible.

We've seen a MASSIVE application increase from cuts to state & federal funding.

connect.apsanet.org/centennialce...
Spring Centennial Center Research Grant Program
connect.apsanet.org

I think it's more likely about getting Susan Collins on board.

I have always admired both of the Castros so much.

Reposted by Julie Novkov

His mom, Rosie, was an important leader in the Chicano movement here in Texas who never minced words. He has good influences.

Reposted by Anna O. Law

Many of our political elites are meeting this moment by issuing statements that appear to have been vetted with excruciating care to assure the right number of people that they care without offending too many other people. Not this guy. He's out there doing the work. Much appreciation.
I just visited Liam and his father. I also met with countless more children and families who have done nothing wrong and should not be detained.

My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
youtu.be/j9FcMwyWN2I?...
I just visited Liam and his father. My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
YouTube video by JoaquinCastroTX
youtu.be

Reposted by Julie Novkov

I just visited Liam and his father. I also met with countless more children and families who have done nothing wrong and should not be detained.

My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
youtu.be/j9FcMwyWN2I?...
I just visited Liam and his father. My full update on visiting the Dilley detention center:
YouTube video by JoaquinCastroTX
youtu.be
Definite uptick in Bluesky content aggregators taking legit clips regarding Minnesota from a few days or weeks ago and posting them without any sort of timestamp context, which gives the impression of them happening today, which then gets clicks. Be vigilant with what and how you share.

I do wonder somewhat idly if the practice of legal argument construction (searching for support for your propositions) renders it more vulnerable to AI howlers.
This is notable to me because I've heard from some other lawyers that they're not worried about AI hallucinations because they only use the premium Westlaw or Lexis versions. Supposedly, they are limited to the real case databases

This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations

I have been thinking about Printz and the 1990s New Federalism quite a lot lately.

Reposted by Julie Novkov

This is notable to me because I've heard from some other lawyers that they're not worried about AI hallucinations because they only use the premium Westlaw or Lexis versions. Supposedly, they are limited to the real case databases

This clerk used Lexis+ and Lexis Protege and got 8 hallucinations
🗃️ State & local jurisdictions cannot defy federal law but neither can the federal govt order them to enforce every aspect of that law. For some origins of this ongoing tension in immigration federalism, rooted in the history of American slavery, here is a 🧵 on Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842) 🧵 1/10

While I agree, if this can encourage people to recognize Miller as the architect and driver of these policies, I'm in favor.

Miller is smart enough to retreat tactically for a moment and throw a few people under the bus. His positions on mass deportation and how it should be accomplished have not changed. Recall his promises of absolute immunity and do not give him a pass.
Top White House aide Stephen Miller acknowledges possible breach of protocol before Alex Pretti’s shooting | CNN Politics
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Tuesday that officials were evaluating why Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis “may not have been following” proper protocol befor...
www.cnn.com

I'm fine with this but I wish there were more discussion of Miller.

How can an RBKM reactor explode?
If Bilbo had Chat GPT

Oooof. Likely you have sole individuals doing 3-4 critically important jobs, each of which is itself a full-time job. Then you and others put hours of additional labor into trying to find out who's responsible for your critical task and how to get it done. Not exactly efficient.

My brain is wired backwards for this game. I not infrequently get the 5/5s with no errors and struggle with the 2/5s. I believe I have lost a 1/5.

I would guess we are very close to "allow us to commandeer your state and local police and data systems to enforce our immigration policy if you want any money to fix your sewers." Just a reminder that there was this whole constitutional revival of state sovereignty in the 1990s.
About $17 billion in FEMA aid is getting an extra layer of review by Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security secretary, slowing assistance to disaster-struck communities.
Extra Scrutiny of FEMA Aid to States Has Created a $17 Billion Bottleneck
Additional layers of review ordered by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, have slowed assistance to disaster-struck communities.
nyti.ms

I'm old enough that I remember when the Washington Post hosted a series featuring informed, nuanced analysis of political events written by professional political scientists. @himself.bsky.social

My flip reaction is that attaching these strings seems to trammel freedom of religion, such a rhetorical focus for the administration. But we need to pay attention. Even with FEMA's budget cuts, people/institutions will be asking it for a lot of money in the wake of disasters in 2026.

Reposted by Julie Novkov

About $17 billion in FEMA aid is getting an extra layer of review by Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security secretary, slowing assistance to disaster-struck communities.
Extra Scrutiny of FEMA Aid to States Has Created a $17 Billion Bottleneck
Additional layers of review ordered by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, have slowed assistance to disaster-struck communities.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Julie Novkov

WUKY @wuky.org · 2d
A Frankfort church damaged by April 2025 flooding turned down a $200,000 FEMA grant over fine print demanding data-sharing with DHS, dismantling of DEI programs.

From @claywallace.bsky.social
Frankfort church opts to stay "open and affirming," turns down strings-attached FEMA grant
The $200,000 grant was awarded to First Baptist Church to aid with flood damage, but the contract stipulated that recipients assist immigration enforcement efforts and eliminate diversity and inclusio...
www.wuky.org
NEW: A federal judge in Minnesota orders Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to appear IN PERSON this Friday and explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt.

"The court's patience is at an end," writes Bush-appointed Judge Patrick J Schiltz, who clerked for Scalia. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
How many STEM Ph.D.s were lost from the U.S. federal government last year?

My colleagues @mghersher.bsky.social and @policyhound.bsky.social dug into a recent data release to find the answer. A @science.org exclusive.

www.science.org/content/arti...
ICE is changing tactics in Maine: "Now, the volunteers in Maine say federal agents have started showing up at their homes and intimidating them or threatening arrest. Some of them, masked and wearing tactical gear, have issued stark warnings not to follow them." www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
ICE watchers in Maine say they were threatened by federal agents
Community members have been monitoring the activity of immigration agents in Greater Portland.
www.pressherald.com

Hurt people hurt people, John.
Where in the world is Mila! @ctgualbany.bsky.social
& @rockefellercollege.bsky.social's @milagasco.bsky.social is in Valdivia, Chile researching #opengovernment & #citizenparticipation at the local level. Research funded by FONDECYT (the Chilean NSF) & hosted by Austral University of Chile.