Julie Novkov
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jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov
@jnovkov.bsky.social
9.9K followers 1.2K following 5.2K posts

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

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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%
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jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 6h
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.
obarcala.bsky.social Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 7h
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

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 6h
I have been thinking about Printz and the 1990s New Federalism quite a lot lately.

Reposted by Julie Novkov

obarcala.bsky.social
Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 7h
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

Reposted by Julie Novkov

kevinkenny.bsky.social
Kevin Kenny @kevinkenny.bsky.social · 8h
🗃️ 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
Image showing a fugitive slave being captured by four men under antebellum federal law

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 11h
While I agree, if this can encourage people to recognize Miller as the architect and driver of these policies, I'm in favor.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 11h
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

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 13h
I'm fine with this but I wish there were more discussion of Miller.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 13h
How can an RBKM reactor explode?

Reposted by Simon Roux, Dean Eckles, Julie Novkov , and 2 more

matthighton.bsky.social
Matthew Highton @matthighton.bsky.social · 1d
If Bilbo had Chat GPT

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d
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.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d
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.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d
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.
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d
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

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d
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

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 1d
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

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d
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.org
WUKY @wuky.org · 1d
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

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Scott A. Imberman, Julie Novkov , and 1 more

aurabogado.bsky.social
Aura Bogado @aurabogado.bsky.social · 1d
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...
Part 1 of 2 screenshots reads: "The court's patience is at an end. Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court. The Court acknowledges that ordering the..." Part 2 of 2 screenshot reads "...head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICE's violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried an failed."

Reposted by Brian J. Enquist, Jesse H. Kroll, Karen R. Lips , and 9 more

klangin.bsky.social
Katie Langin @klangin.bsky.social · 2d
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...

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Joanna Bryson, Nandita Sharma , and 14 more

kimlanelaw.bsky.social
Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 2d
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

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d
Hurt people hurt people, John.

Reposted by Mila Gascó‐Hernández, Julie Novkov

ctgualbany.bsky.social
CTG UAlbany @ctgualbany.bsky.social · 2d
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.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d
(I knew the mom who was in charge of this.) dgllc.net/navy-pier-to...
IGI to Host 15th Annual Illinois Gymnastics Institute Chicago Style Gymnastics Meet This Weekend at Navy Pier. - DeBlasio Law Group, LLC
This weekend IGI will host the 15th Annual Illinois Gymnastics Institute Chicago Style Gymnastics Meet at Navy Pier in Chicago.  The Meet is billed as the “Largest Women’s Gymnastics Invitational Meet...
dgllc.net

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 2d
The photo is like a B+ grade effort on the part of a full-time working mom with kids who do 3 travel sports.

Reposted by Norbert Schwarz, Joe R. Feagin, Will Jennings , and 16 more

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 2d
This morning, I recorded a video on TikTok about why DHS’s arguments for the power to enter homes without judicial warrants in immigration cases are bunk.

Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.

Well, here’s a link:

georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...
Screenshot of a TikTok video with error message at top saying “your video is under review and can’t be shared right now.”

Reposted by Julie Novkov

taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 3d
A reminder that The Trace has been tracking shootings connected to Trump's immigration crackdowns — Renee Good and Alex Pretti, unfortunately, are not alone: www.thetrace.org/2025/12/immi...
How Many People Have Been Shot in ICE Raids?
The Trace is tracking gun incidents connected to Trump’s immigration crackdown. Know of one? Please be in touch.
www.thetrace.org

Reposted by David Darmofal

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 3d
Some of these folks were singing very different tunes when armed protesters gathered in Michigan's state house in 2020.
Protests against US stay-at-home orders gain support from rightwing figures
Demonstrations against coronavirus measures spread across US as Fox News, Limbaugh and others champion conservative effort
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Robert C. Richards, Caroline T. Schroeder , and 3 more

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 3d
For "One First," I wrote about DOJ's unprecedented attempt to secretly strong-arm a widely respected district judge in the Cities Church protest case—and why everyone, especially other federal judges, should read Chief Judge Schiltz's two letters in response:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/205-chief-...
205. Chief Judge Schiltz and the Department of Justice
Every federal judge (and justice) should read the two letters from Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz in the church protest case—and what they tell us about the Department of Justice's litigation behavior.
www.stevevladeck.com

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 3d
I can't ever forget or diminish the history I know, but that won't stop me from claiming my power as a citizen of this country to define its values. The Declaration may not have included me, but the Fourteenth and Nineteenth Amendments gave me my stake, and I'll be damned if I relinquish it.

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 3d
"There are times to stand inside the courtroom and
say "this is a nation of laws, laws recognizing fundamental values of rights, equality and personhood." Sometimes, as Angela Davis did, there is a need to make both speeches in one day."

jnovkov.bsky.social
Julie Novkov @jnovkov.bsky.social · 3d
"There are times to stand outside the courtroom·
door and say "this procedure is a farce, the legal
system is corrupt, justice will never prevail in this
land as long as privilege rules in the courtroom.""