Marc Aidinoff
@maidino.bsky.social
Historian of technology, science, and the welfare state. Occasional maker of policy about those things.
Pinned
Marc Aidinoff
@maidino.bsky.social
· Feb 13
Liberals have tried desperately to change the politics of welfare.
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Allison Williams tells Las Culturistas she tries to be polite but mysterious when talking to AI in case the machines ever turn on her:
“I’m always going to be cordial with you, say thank you, please - I don’t think it’s figured out what I do for a living. I try to keep a distance.”
“I’m always going to be cordial with you, say thank you, please - I don’t think it’s figured out what I do for a living. I try to keep a distance.”
July 3, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Allison Williams tells Las Culturistas she tries to be polite but mysterious when talking to AI in case the machines ever turn on her:
“I’m always going to be cordial with you, say thank you, please - I don’t think it’s figured out what I do for a living. I try to keep a distance.”
“I’m always going to be cordial with you, say thank you, please - I don’t think it’s figured out what I do for a living. I try to keep a distance.”
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
46 MILLION Americans will lose their health care—either outright or thru red tape
40 MILLION Americans will face drastic cuts to their food aid
So that the top 1% can get $107 BILLION in net tax cuts next year alone—more than goes to the entire bottom 60%
Reading the bill is the bare minimum
40 MILLION Americans will face drastic cuts to their food aid
So that the top 1% can get $107 BILLION in net tax cuts next year alone—more than goes to the entire bottom 60%
Reading the bill is the bare minimum
Democrats will force a reading of the entire reconciliation bill
“Schumer believes Americans deserve to hear exactly what’s in this monstrosity”
“Schumer believes Americans deserve to hear exactly what’s in this monstrosity”
June 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
46 MILLION Americans will lose their health care—either outright or thru red tape
40 MILLION Americans will face drastic cuts to their food aid
So that the top 1% can get $107 BILLION in net tax cuts next year alone—more than goes to the entire bottom 60%
Reading the bill is the bare minimum
40 MILLION Americans will face drastic cuts to their food aid
So that the top 1% can get $107 BILLION in net tax cuts next year alone—more than goes to the entire bottom 60%
Reading the bill is the bare minimum
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Literally begging you to tell your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, your family.
People have vaguely heard of “the one big beautiful bill,” but very few people know Rs are WEEKS away from uninsuring millions - and will do it unless we can get a groundswell of opposition to stop them.
People have vaguely heard of “the one big beautiful bill,” but very few people know Rs are WEEKS away from uninsuring millions - and will do it unless we can get a groundswell of opposition to stop them.
Congress is WEEKS away from kicking more than 10 million people off their health insurance via $1 trillion in health care cuts.
It passed the House and is now in the Senate - which is planning to vote in a few weeks. Then back to the House to be re-passed.
We have only a few weeks to stop this.
It passed the House and is now in the Senate - which is planning to vote in a few weeks. Then back to the House to be re-passed.
We have only a few weeks to stop this.
June 6, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Literally begging you to tell your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, your family.
People have vaguely heard of “the one big beautiful bill,” but very few people know Rs are WEEKS away from uninsuring millions - and will do it unless we can get a groundswell of opposition to stop them.
People have vaguely heard of “the one big beautiful bill,” but very few people know Rs are WEEKS away from uninsuring millions - and will do it unless we can get a groundswell of opposition to stop them.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Cost estimate of the House-passed "Big Beautiful Bill" is out
It'd be the largest cut to Medicaid+CHIP and SNAP in history while still increasing deficits by $2.4 trillion due to $3.8 trillion in tax cuts
This'd be the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in a single law in history
It'd be the largest cut to Medicaid+CHIP and SNAP in history while still increasing deficits by $2.4 trillion due to $3.8 trillion in tax cuts
This'd be the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in a single law in history
June 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Cost estimate of the House-passed "Big Beautiful Bill" is out
It'd be the largest cut to Medicaid+CHIP and SNAP in history while still increasing deficits by $2.4 trillion due to $3.8 trillion in tax cuts
This'd be the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in a single law in history
It'd be the largest cut to Medicaid+CHIP and SNAP in history while still increasing deficits by $2.4 trillion due to $3.8 trillion in tax cuts
This'd be the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in a single law in history
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging."
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress
I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.
time.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging."
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.
I wrote about my decision in TIME.
time.com/7285045/resi...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Nation Can’t Believe It On Harvard’s Side
April 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Nation Can’t Believe It On Harvard’s Side
An outstanding public servant! When Dr. Blair says it's time for a new generation of leadership believe him.
Frustrated with a lack of urgency in Washington, the former chair of Georgia’s largest school district jumped into the race to unseat U.S. Rep. David Scott — mounting a generational challenge against one of the state’s longest-serving Democrats. #gapol
ajc.com/politics/dem...
ajc.com/politics/dem...
Former Gwinnett school board chair jumps in race to challenge 12-term Rep. David Scott
Everton Blair, a former Gwinnett school board chair, becomes latest Democrat to test Rep. David Scott’s staying power in Congress.
ajc.com
April 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
An outstanding public servant! When Dr. Blair says it's time for a new generation of leadership believe him.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Happy tax day! Hard to celebrate much these days, but let’s hear it for the income tax, which replaced tariff revenue, simultaneously reducing inequality and boosting growth. One of the greatest policy changes in US history, may we see another such change in the near future.
April 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Happy tax day! Hard to celebrate much these days, but let’s hear it for the income tax, which replaced tariff revenue, simultaneously reducing inequality and boosting growth. One of the greatest policy changes in US history, may we see another such change in the near future.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
"What our government is doing now is wrong in itself, but beyond that, it poses a bigger threat to Jewish people’s safety than all the campus protests ever could."
Exactly.
And also, it was exceedingly obvious what this was from jump.
Exactly.
And also, it was exceedingly obvious what this was from jump.
Opinion | Trump’s Crusade Against Antisemitism Is Extremely Bad for the Jews (Gift Article)
Antisemitism is real. But the enemy of our enemy is not necessarily our friend.
www.nytimes.com
April 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"What our government is doing now is wrong in itself, but beyond that, it poses a bigger threat to Jewish people’s safety than all the campus protests ever could."
Exactly.
And also, it was exceedingly obvious what this was from jump.
Exactly.
And also, it was exceedingly obvious what this was from jump.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Hearing from all corners of HHS this morning about a total bloodletting — firings of scientists, analysts and many more as delayed RIFs take effect.
Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.
Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.
April 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Hearing from all corners of HHS this morning about a total bloodletting — firings of scientists, analysts and many more as delayed RIFs take effect.
Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.
Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.
State governments actively deciding to have no money to function is a disaster.
Nothing quite speaks to failed governance like Mississippi speeding up their reduction of the income tax because of a typo.
Nothing quite speaks to failed governance like Mississippi speeding up their reduction of the income tax because of a typo.
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who oversees the Senate, remained mum on Friday, providing no explanation of how the typos got past Senate proofers and lawyers.
Sweeping Mississippi tax overhaul passed ... by mistake. Gov. Reeves eager to sign typo tax swap into law - Mississippi Today
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who oversees the Senate, remained mum on Friday, providing no explanation of how the typos got past Senate proofers and lawyers.
mississippitoday.org
March 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
State governments actively deciding to have no money to function is a disaster.
Nothing quite speaks to failed governance like Mississippi speeding up their reduction of the income tax because of a typo.
Nothing quite speaks to failed governance like Mississippi speeding up their reduction of the income tax because of a typo.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
"The mythology of founders and Silicon Valley too often obscures the indispensable role of American taxpayers in the innovation economy"—my recent remarks to @bloomberg.com about the critical importance of federally funded research. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Trump’s Big Gamble on the Future of AI Development
The new administration rethinks public funding for research, leaving it to private companies to chart the path ahead.
www.bloomberg.com
March 8, 2025 at 8:36 AM
"The mythology of founders and Silicon Valley too often obscures the indispensable role of American taxpayers in the innovation economy"—my recent remarks to @bloomberg.com about the critical importance of federally funded research. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
It’s not cute to accidentally cancel Ebola prevention — a virus with a 50% fatality rate.
It’s even less acceptable when it turns out you didn’t “restore” the prevention for Ebola like you claimed.
It’s even less acceptable when it turns out you didn’t “restore” the prevention for Ebola like you claimed.
Elon Musk: "We will make mistakes. We won't be perfect ... so for example, with USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was ebola prevention."
February 28, 2025 at 1:50 AM
It’s not cute to accidentally cancel Ebola prevention — a virus with a 50% fatality rate.
It’s even less acceptable when it turns out you didn’t “restore” the prevention for Ebola like you claimed.
It’s even less acceptable when it turns out you didn’t “restore” the prevention for Ebola like you claimed.
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
IRS commissioners appointed by Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden agree that Trump is making a huge mistake firing 6,700 IRS workers in the middle of tax season: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/o...
Opinion | Trump Just Fired 6,700 I.R.S. Workers in the Middle of Tax Season. That’s a Huge Mistake.
The Trump administration’s decision to fire over 6,000 I.R.S. workers will make the government less effective and less efficient, not more.
www.nytimes.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
IRS commissioners appointed by Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden agree that Trump is making a huge mistake firing 6,700 IRS workers in the middle of tax season: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/o...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Really interesting point from @yappelbaum.bsky.social about how mobility, not staying in one place, is what produces strong communities in the US:
www.vox.com/housing/3996...
www.vox.com/housing/3996...
February 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Really interesting point from @yappelbaum.bsky.social about how mobility, not staying in one place, is what produces strong communities in the US:
www.vox.com/housing/3996...
www.vox.com/housing/3996...
Destroying public goods is much easier to think about in terms of concrete examples than abstracted process questions.
The example of hollowing out of public education in @rachelmcohen.bsky.social's piece is exactly how to make sense of DOGE
www.vox.com/donald-trump...
The example of hollowing out of public education in @rachelmcohen.bsky.social's piece is exactly how to make sense of DOGE
www.vox.com/donald-trump...
This didn’t start with DOGE
Elon Musk is using the anti-teacher playbook against the entire civil workforce.
www.vox.com
February 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Destroying public goods is much easier to think about in terms of concrete examples than abstracted process questions.
The example of hollowing out of public education in @rachelmcohen.bsky.social's piece is exactly how to make sense of DOGE
www.vox.com/donald-trump...
The example of hollowing out of public education in @rachelmcohen.bsky.social's piece is exactly how to make sense of DOGE
www.vox.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Government’s wins are often invisible: Systems that avoid plane crashes; alliances that avert war; surveillance that prevent pandemics.
Government wins are often *the avoidance of loss.*
So how do we tell the story of the destruction of government? The story of future losses *not* averted?
Government wins are often *the avoidance of loss.*
So how do we tell the story of the destruction of government? The story of future losses *not* averted?
February 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Government’s wins are often invisible: Systems that avoid plane crashes; alliances that avert war; surveillance that prevent pandemics.
Government wins are often *the avoidance of loss.*
So how do we tell the story of the destruction of government? The story of future losses *not* averted?
Government wins are often *the avoidance of loss.*
So how do we tell the story of the destruction of government? The story of future losses *not* averted?
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Andrew Donnelly's insights for this @myhnn.bsky.social's piece (a great preview of this forthcoming book *Confederate Sympathies*) adds so much depth to our understanding of Lincoln, Buchanan, and the post-Civil War reconciliationist culture: www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/linc...
February 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Andrew Donnelly's insights for this @myhnn.bsky.social's piece (a great preview of this forthcoming book *Confederate Sympathies*) adds so much depth to our understanding of Lincoln, Buchanan, and the post-Civil War reconciliationist culture: www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/linc...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Liberals have tried desperately to change the politics of welfare.
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
February 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Liberals have tried desperately to change the politics of welfare.
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
The amazing editors of _Mastery and Drift_ helped me lay out how computerization offered libs a new politics of professionalized welfare administration w/o explicit reference to race or rights.
www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
They have access to *everyone's* bank account...I just don't know how much clearer to be about how frightening this is
This is absolutely insane. Musk’s DOGE crew just straight up *took* $80 million from an NYC bank account!
Okay what is going on here. Are the accounts at a private banking entity? Does the federal government have direct debit permission set up? So many questions as to how Treasury instructed this payment. (Via NY Post’s Craig McCarthy)
February 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
They have access to *everyone's* bank account...I just don't know how much clearer to be about how frightening this is
Reposted by Marc Aidinoff
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Read our feature from this week on Lincoln, memory, and the politics of fraternal affection. www.hnn.us/article/linc...
A Posthumous Romance of White Male Reunion
The history of deriving political meaning from Abraham Lincoln’s sexuality.
www.hnn.us
February 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Read our feature from this week on Lincoln, memory, and the politics of fraternal affection. www.hnn.us/article/linc...