Merike Blofield
@merikeblofield.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science | global health, social, family & gender policy, Latin America | University of Hamburg | Finnish-Canadian, spent 25 years in the US and South America. Latin Americanist at heart.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Paterson NJ is ~65% Hispanic,
~20% Black, ~10% white.
I’m sure that’s not at all a coincidence.
Democracy literally dies in bomb threats.
~20% Black, ~10% white.
I’m sure that’s not at all a coincidence.
Democracy literally dies in bomb threats.
Across New Jersey, bomb threats at multiple polling locations have prompted closures and relocations today
Bomb threats force closures at some New Jersey polling places
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said polling sites at School 2 and School 10 in Paterson were shut down after threats were received.
newjersey.news12.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Paterson NJ is ~65% Hispanic,
~20% Black, ~10% white.
I’m sure that’s not at all a coincidence.
Democracy literally dies in bomb threats.
~20% Black, ~10% white.
I’m sure that’s not at all a coincidence.
Democracy literally dies in bomb threats.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Thank you, Chicago.
October 25, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Thank you, Chicago.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
When idiot Ron Schneider was born in 1963, the infant mortality rate was 29/1,000. It is now close to 5/1,000. So, no, children were NOT healthier when he was a kid. And he was, clearly, dropped on his head.
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
When idiot Ron Schneider was born in 1963, the infant mortality rate was 29/1,000. It is now close to 5/1,000. So, no, children were NOT healthier when he was a kid. And he was, clearly, dropped on his head.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
October 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
In what universe is this ok?
My god.
“Watson said she saw agents dragging residents, including kids, out of the building without any clothes on and into U-Haul vans. Kids were separated from their mothers…’It was heartbreaking to watch…seeing kids coming out buck naked and taken from their mothers, it was horrible.’”
“Watson said she saw agents dragging residents, including kids, out of the building without any clothes on and into U-Haul vans. Kids were separated from their mothers…’It was heartbreaking to watch…seeing kids coming out buck naked and taken from their mothers, it was horrible.’”
Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'
The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
In what universe is this ok?
I am excited for this challenge @GIGA, where our goal is to produce policy-relevant social scientific research for the benefit of society. This mission is esp. important now & I look forward to working w//colleagues in & outside GIGA @redpolitologas.bsky.social
www.giga-hamburg.de/en/press/mer...
www.giga-hamburg.de/en/press/mer...
September 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I am excited for this challenge @GIGA, where our goal is to produce policy-relevant social scientific research for the benefit of society. This mission is esp. important now & I look forward to working w//colleagues in & outside GIGA @redpolitologas.bsky.social
www.giga-hamburg.de/en/press/mer...
www.giga-hamburg.de/en/press/mer...
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Important to remember that everyone involved in renaming the DoD to the Department of War is afraid to take the subway.
September 5, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Important to remember that everyone involved in renaming the DoD to the Department of War is afraid to take the subway.
So many failures here www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Family of French woman killed by ex-partner to go to court to find out why she was not protected
Family submitted a case last year accusing police, social services and courts of ‘serious failings’ but had no response
www.theguardian.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:50 PM
So many failures here www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Reposted by Merike Blofield
When I worked in the Michigan Senate Repubs would let us know they had a family member w a particular medical problem, bc they would vote w their caucus on nearly everything but the rare times they voted w Dems it was on amendments about a particular medical problem
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
August 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
When I worked in the Michigan Senate Repubs would let us know they had a family member w a particular medical problem, bc they would vote w their caucus on nearly everything but the rare times they voted w Dems it was on amendments about a particular medical problem
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o...
Reposted by Merike Blofield
And every year they crown the "Tax King" and the "Tax Queen", i.e. the man and woman that paid the most taxes in Iceland that year.
August 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
And every year they crown the "Tax King" and the "Tax Queen", i.e. the man and woman that paid the most taxes in Iceland that year.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Two months after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, in June 2022, Idaho’s trigger ban outlawing most abortions—one of the strictest nationwide—took effect.
According to a new peer-reviewed paper study, Idaho lost more than a third of its OBs—94 of 268 total—afterwards.
According to a new peer-reviewed paper study, Idaho lost more than a third of its OBs—94 of 268 total—afterwards.
Idaho lost one in three obstetricians after its abortion ban
New research confirms: Crackdowns on reproductive rights have harmful ripple effects across local health care.
www.motherjones.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Two months after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, in June 2022, Idaho’s trigger ban outlawing most abortions—one of the strictest nationwide—took effect.
According to a new peer-reviewed paper study, Idaho lost more than a third of its OBs—94 of 268 total—afterwards.
According to a new peer-reviewed paper study, Idaho lost more than a third of its OBs—94 of 268 total—afterwards.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
After a five-day halt due to a lack of supplies, our team at WCK’s Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen has resumed limited hot meal service in Gaza. #ChefsForGaza (1/3)
World Central Kitchen | WCK Resumes Limited Hot Meal Service in Gaza After 5-Day Pause
After a five day pause, limited cooking operations resumed today at World Central Kitchen's Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen in Gaza.
This marks the second time in 2025 our hot meal program has been force...
wck.org
July 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
After a five-day halt due to a lack of supplies, our team at WCK’s Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen has resumed limited hot meal service in Gaza. #ChefsForGaza (1/3)
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Die Politikwissenschaft an der Universität Hamburg droht eine Professur für Internationale Beziehungen zu verlieren. Bitte teilt und unterschreibt den Protestbrief auf uhh-ib-erhalten.de
July 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Die Politikwissenschaft an der Universität Hamburg droht eine Professur für Internationale Beziehungen zu verlieren. Bitte teilt und unterschreibt den Protestbrief auf uhh-ib-erhalten.de
Reposted by Merike Blofield
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Merike Blofield
This is a travesty & a nightmare. The US was a founder of @gavi.org. It lowers global vaccine costs, has vaccinated 1B children, & averted 19M deaths. This pull out will cost 100s of thousands of children's lives a year - and RFK Jr will be personally responsible.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
RFK Jr. says US won’t donate to global vaccine effort
Kennedy ripped into Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a video address at its pledging summit.
www.politico.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is a travesty & a nightmare. The US was a founder of @gavi.org. It lowers global vaccine costs, has vaccinated 1B children, & averted 19M deaths. This pull out will cost 100s of thousands of children's lives a year - and RFK Jr will be personally responsible.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
Abortions in the US up
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Abortions in the US are on the rise three years after Roe v Wade was overturned
A growing number of abortions happen through telehealth – including for women in states with strict bans
www.theguardian.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Abortions in the US up
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The New York Times has really lost its way…
June 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The New York Times has really lost its way…
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Please read and share this statement from Sophie and Colin Hortman, children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
(via WCCO reporter Caroline Cummings on X)
(via WCCO reporter Caroline Cummings on X)
June 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Please read and share this statement from Sophie and Colin Hortman, children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
(via WCCO reporter Caroline Cummings on X)
(via WCCO reporter Caroline Cummings on X)
Reposted by Merike Blofield
When a cabinet member announces "We are using the military to liberate an American city from its elected leaders," where do you go from there. What is left to say. The idea of that being anything short of a near-universal "Wait, what the fuck is going on" moment proves how far we've backslid.
June 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
When a cabinet member announces "We are using the military to liberate an American city from its elected leaders," where do you go from there. What is left to say. The idea of that being anything short of a near-universal "Wait, what the fuck is going on" moment proves how far we've backslid.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
Padilla: If this is how DHS responds to a senator with a question you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California.
June 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Padilla: If this is how DHS responds to a senator with a question you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
This story exemplifies the reason people are outraged at ICE.
This guy did nothing wrong. He broke not a single law. He was a guard at a base that housed US troops. He came here legally through humanitarian parole. He had an asylum application pending. Yet the Trump admin had ICE grab him anyway.
This guy did nothing wrong. He broke not a single law. He was a guard at a base that housed US troops. He came here legally through humanitarian parole. He had an asylum application pending. Yet the Trump admin had ICE grab him anyway.
ICE arrested former Afghan Nat'l Army soldier—our ally against Taliban—at his home in TX.
He entered legally and atty says he has no criminal record. Was applying for asylum. Appears to be casualty of Trump decision de-documenting legal Afghan immigrants
www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/new...
He entered legally and atty says he has no criminal record. Was applying for asylum. Appears to be casualty of Trump decision de-documenting legal Afghan immigrants
www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/new...
Former Afghan soldier arrested at Houston-area home by ICE, stripped of asylum protections, attorney says | Houston Public Media
The soldier is one of at least 20,000 Afghans seeking asylum nationwide, having fled Afghanistan after aiding the U.S. military during the two-decades-long war there.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
June 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This story exemplifies the reason people are outraged at ICE.
This guy did nothing wrong. He broke not a single law. He was a guard at a base that housed US troops. He came here legally through humanitarian parole. He had an asylum application pending. Yet the Trump admin had ICE grab him anyway.
This guy did nothing wrong. He broke not a single law. He was a guard at a base that housed US troops. He came here legally through humanitarian parole. He had an asylum application pending. Yet the Trump admin had ICE grab him anyway.
Reposted by Merike Blofield
How bad will it be? Catastrophic.
Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.
But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.
Speak up now before it is too late.
(inflation adjusted $-s below)
Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.
But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.
Speak up now before it is too late.
(inflation adjusted $-s below)
May 31, 2025 at 2:50 AM