Laia Balcells
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laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells
@laiabalcells.bsky.social
7.2K followers 1.6K following 800 posts

Yale educated political scientist. Georgetown professor. Views here are personal. Reskeets are not endorsements.

Videos
Political science 60%
Sociology 17%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Laia Balcells, David R. Miller , and 2 more

newsguy.bsky.social
Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 4d
President Trump is keeping the Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by its recipient, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. abcnews.go.com/US/trump-mee...
Trump accepts Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House Thursday, where she said she presented him with her Nobel medal.
abcnews.go.com

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Laia Balcells, David Rosnick , and 4 more

lhertzel.bsky.social
Laurie Hertzel @lhertzel.bsky.social · 4d
One of the stories that makes me the saddest out of this ICE invasion is one out of the Minnesota Star Tribune today about ICE agents eating at a little Mexican restaurant in the small town of Willmar, Minn, —and then, when they were done, arresting some of the workers.

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · 4d
Shocking: US Universities are starting to feel the impact of policies that are intentionally aiming to undermine them: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as U.S. Schools Slip
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Laia Balcells

thetnholler.bsky.social
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 5d
Alternate headline: “Is @joerogan really going to pretend he wasn’t warned repeatedly about his support for this guy?”

Reposted by Laia Balcells

democracydocket.com
Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 5d
NEW: The Supreme Court opened the floodgates to lawsuits challenging the counting and certifying of election results, ruling 7-2 that any candidate for federal office may challenge laws governing their election.
Supreme Court opens election litigation floodgates, says any candidate can challenge voting laws
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com

Reposted by Laia Balcells

daviddarmofal.bsky.social
David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 5d
Wow!
Peltola raises $1.5M in first 24 hours of Alaska Senate bid
Peltola raises $1.5M in first 24 hours of Alaska Senate bid
Democrats are hoping the former member of Congress can flip GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan’s seat.
www.politico.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, John Horgan, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 1 more

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 6d
Breaking News: Three Minnesota federal prosecutors resigned over the Justice Department’s push to investigate the wife of Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent. The Justice Department sought to examine her supposed ties to activist groups.
3 Prosecutors Quit After Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
Joseph H. Thompson, a career federal prosecutor who was the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota last year, quit after the Justice Department sought to examine the woman’s supposed ties to activist groups.
nyti.ms

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · 6d
This is truly heartbreaking. As a mother, I can't start to imagine the pain she and her partner are going through. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/w...
Famed Nigerian Author Blames Death of Toddler Son on Negligent Care
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Laia Balcells

coloradosun.com
The Colorado Sun ☀️ @coloradosun.com · 6d
Colorado public school enrollment has dropped by more than 10,000 students this year
Colorado public school enrollment has dropped by more than 10,000 students this year
Fewer Hispanic students are also showing up to schools, according to data released Tuesday
coloradosun.com

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Laia Balcells, Robert B. Reich , and 3 more

kylegriffin1.bsky.social
Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 6d
Trump just posted that the "day of reckoning & retribution is coming" in Minnesota.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Laia Balcells

chadloder.bsky.social
Chad Loder @chadloder.bsky.social · 10d
The ICE agent called her a "fucking bitch" after he killed her. One officer screams "Go, get out of here" while this officer says "Get out of the car." You clearly see her turn the wheel AWAY from him after he steps in front of her car. Did they think releasing this would help them?? cw // violence

Reposted by Laia Balcells

profjslewis.bsky.social
Jacob S. Lewis @profjslewis.bsky.social · 10d
Hey #Polisky - I'm trying to put together a panel for APSA 2026 that focuses on antisemitism. Is anyone interested in contributing an abstract? If so, let me know!

Reposted by Laia Balcells

unu-wider.bsky.social
UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 27d
How do violent pasts shape democratic politics decades later?

A new Broadstreet blog by @laiabalcells.bsky.social, @apvjustino.bsky.social and @andrearuggeri.bsky.social dives into findings from the Comparative Political Studies special issue.

Read more: go.unu.edu/fc9rP
Black and white image of Italian partisans of the Brigade Garibaldi.

Reposted by Laia Balcells

yalesph.bsky.social
Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · 28d
Beyond the financial toll, the researchers found that withdrawing support for rapidly advancing mRNA vaccine technology could result in over 49,000 preventable deaths annually among patients diagnosed with four major cancers.

3/3

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz, Scott L. Greer, Daniel Webster , and 11 more

yalesph.bsky.social
Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · 28d
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
New report sounds alarm on health fallout from mRNA vaccine funding cuts
A new report from the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have
ysph.yale.edu

Reposted by David Darmofal

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · 28d
First time writing for Broadstreet blog! With @apvjustino.bsky.social and @andrearuggeri.bsky.social, we wrote about the Special Issue just published at Comparative Political Studies: www.broadstreet.blog/p/legacies-o...
Legacies of Repression: How Europe’s Violent 20th Century Still Shapes Its Politics
by Laia Balcells, Patricia Justino, and Andrea Ruggeri
www.broadstreet.blog

Reposted by Marco Festa‐Bianchet, Jonathan A. Foley, Laia Balcells , and 18 more

nkalamb.bsky.social
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · Dec 20
I’m sorry, but it is disgraceful to be an academic who uses this technology to conduct research. It should be prohibited in all of our scholarly institutions, including universities and journals.

Reposted by David Darmofal

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · Dec 19
Polarized Equality? Ideological and Affective Divides Over Gender Equality in Europe onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Polarized Equality? Ideological and Affective Divides Over Gender Equality in Europe
Objective This study examines polarization over gender equality in Europe, an issue that has received limited attention in the polarization literature despite growing politicization and opposition, ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · Dec 18
Very sad and distressing news from UNC: www.dailytarheel.com/article/a4ee...
UNC cuts all six area studies research centers, effective 2026
As part of the University's plan to make $70 million in budget cuts across the institution, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Nate Knuffman projected that cutting 14 centers and institutes in...
www.dailytarheel.com

Reposted by Laia Balcells, Michael W. Kraus

olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · Dec 15
guys is it happening??

www.mediaite.com/politics/two...

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Kim L. Scheppele, Valerie P. Hans , and 18 more

raypride.bsky.social
Ray Pride @raypride.bsky.social · Dec 15
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."

Reposted by Laia Balcells

casmudde.bsky.social
Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · Dec 15
Unlike in the U.S., in Hungary sexual abuse of children is leading to massive protests that pose a serious threat to the power of their far-right leader.
24hoursukraine.bsky.social 24Hours Ukraine @24hoursukraine.bsky.social · Dec 14
🇭🇺Massive demonstrations in Budapest, Hungary against the Viktor Orbán’s regime.

Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system

Reposted by Laia Balcells, Aviel Roshwald, David Darmofal

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · Dec 15
The pilot of a JetBlue flight reported on Friday that he narrowly avoided colliding with a U.S. military aircraft over the Caribbean after an Air Force refueling tanker passed in front of the commercial plane without broadcasting its position, according to air traffic control radio communications.
U.S. Military Plane and JetBlue Flight Nearly Collided Over Caribbean, Radio Traffic Shows
The Air Force refueling tanker was flying without its location transponder activated and could not be detected by air traffic control.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Laia Balcells, Scott A. Imberman, Seth Masket , and 1 more

williamadler78.bsky.social
William Adler @williamadler78.bsky.social · Dec 14
Jews everywhere understand that this is the omnipresent reality of being Jewish now. There's a reason my synagogue built a 10-foot tall fence around the whole building and has armed security guards.

Reposted by Laia Balcells, Sebastian Karcher

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Dec 14
Murphy: "We need to understand the choice we've made in this nation to subject our kids to daily exposure to violence is not just about what happens inside schools. For many kids in our violent urban neighborhoods, it's about trauma that's breaking their brains & causing them to be unable to learn"

Reposted by Laia Balcells

meidastouch.com
MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · Dec 14
Today, on what should have been a day of celebration, the Jewish community is instead mourning once again after a horrific attack at Bondi Beach, Australia, where two men opened fire and killed at least 12 people in a targeted terror attack against Jews celebrating Hanukkah.

Antisemitism is evil.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Benjamin Mason Meier, Rita Rubin , and 8 more

irishtimes.com
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · Dec 14
‘I heard 40, 50 shots’: Witnesses fled Bondi Beach as gunmen targeted Jewish event
‘I heard 40, 50 shots’: Witnesses fled Bondi Beach as gunmen targeted Jewish event
Gunshots ripped through a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, killing at least 12 people
www.irishtimes.com

laiabalcells.bsky.social
Laia Balcells @laiabalcells.bsky.social · Dec 14
Thinking of all the community of Brown University people, including friends.

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Laia Balcells, Smith , and 5 more

sarabrinton.bsky.social
Sara WB @sarabrinton.bsky.social · Dec 13
I am a student at Brown in communication with a friend at RIBC.

There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.

Spread the word.

www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
Donate Blood
Check your eligibility to donate blood, learn about the process and why blood matters, and enroll in a RIBC Donor Loyalty Rewards programs.
www.ribc.org

Reposted by Robert W. Wallace, Laia Balcells, Alan Richardson , and 2 more

chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · Dec 13
AS A PROFESSOR, I AM ASKING

HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?

HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?

HOW??????????
joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · Dec 13
Longer statement from Brown University:

"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
DECEMBER 13, 6:05PM: At 4:22 p.m., we alerted our campus to an active shooter incident near Barus & Holley Engineering. We informed our community to shelter in place by locking doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. This remains an active crime scene, and law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and all members of the community should continue to shelter in place. We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals. Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site. Senior administrative leaders from across the university are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families. We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. We have relocated students to get support services at a secure location. Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area.