Mike Makowsky
@mikemakowsky.bsky.social
Professor of Economics at Clemson University
Crime, Political Economy, Religion #COYS
Monday ramblings @
https://economistwritingeveryday.com/author/mdmakowsky/
Crime, Political Economy, Religion #COYS
Monday ramblings @
https://economistwritingeveryday.com/author/mdmakowsky/
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.
White. Hot. Rage.
White. Hot. Rage.
January 24, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.
White. Hot. Rage.
White. Hot. Rage.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Read this statement and tell me we're going to lose
January 25, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Read this statement and tell me we're going to lose
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
This is courage. Looking a masked, government fascist dead in the eye, face to face, knowing full well that your life is on the line.
If elected officials had 1/10th of Alex Pretti's resolve, we would have far fewer troubles.
If elected officials had 1/10th of Alex Pretti's resolve, we would have far fewer troubles.
January 24, 2026 at 7:56 PM
This is courage. Looking a masked, government fascist dead in the eye, face to face, knowing full well that your life is on the line.
If elected officials had 1/10th of Alex Pretti's resolve, we would have far fewer troubles.
If elected officials had 1/10th of Alex Pretti's resolve, we would have far fewer troubles.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
From politics to theater to outright evil. I don't know when we made each transition, but politics and theater are in the rearview now.
Bovino shamelessly lies: "This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement"
January 24, 2026 at 10:03 PM
From politics to theater to outright evil. I don't know when we made each transition, but politics and theater are in the rearview now.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Yes - they all know this could happen and they do it anyway. The reason it’s so unambiguous what happened is that the call had gone out and many people instantly rushed to the scene. Running towards danger. Heroes
I tell you what, Mr. Stancil, today is proving beyond a shadow of a doubt why having so many observers filming is so important, and also how dangerous that job is.
January 24, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Yes - they all know this could happen and they do it anyway. The reason it’s so unambiguous what happened is that the call had gone out and many people instantly rushed to the scene. Running towards danger. Heroes
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
January 24, 2026 at 4:51 PM
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
January 23, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
The grimness of US history should encourage us. Yes, people used to send lynching postcards. And other people saw that, worked towards building a more just society anyway, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. There's more work to be done. What's our excuse for choosing despair instead?
I understand and appreciate the fact that for some it is genuinely uncomfortable and distracting to think about how grim US history is. yes, that is strategically relevant, and no, I wouldn't put "did you know people used to send lynching photos to each other as postcards?" on a recruitment flyer
January 22, 2026 at 7:18 PM
The grimness of US history should encourage us. Yes, people used to send lynching postcards. And other people saw that, worked towards building a more just society anyway, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. There's more work to be done. What's our excuse for choosing despair instead?
This is kidnapping. What children walk around with any form of identification, let alone proof of citizenship? I didn't walk around with any form of ID before I first got a driver's license.
Heartbreaking cruelty visited upon children in our name
January 21, 2026 at 6:31 PM
This is kidnapping. What children walk around with any form of identification, let alone proof of citizenship? I didn't walk around with any form of ID before I first got a driver's license.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
The number of confirmed #measles cases in South Carolina has hit an astonishing 558 in an outbreak that started in October. For context: that is more cases in 4 months than the entire US racked up most years in the past 30+ years. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Measles cases in South Carolina explode to 558, state officials say
South Carolina reported nearly 250 new measles cases this week, official figures showed on Friday, bringing the total of confirmed infections to 558 since October as the threat of a wider outbreak inc...
www.reuters.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The number of confirmed #measles cases in South Carolina has hit an astonishing 558 in an outbreak that started in October. For context: that is more cases in 4 months than the entire US racked up most years in the past 30+ years. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities
January 19, 2026 at 2:12 AM
this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
if ICE can’t handle will stancil tailing them in his Honda Fit, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening when tens of thousands of New Yorkers bike and take the subway to their location in a matter of minutes
NEW: Brace for impact. @makenakelly.bsky.social and @leahfeiger.bsky.social report: www.wired.com/story/califo...
Minnesota Is Just the Beginning. California and New York Are ‘Next’
The Trump administration appears to be planning to leverage the same playbook used in Minnesota to go after other blue states.
www.wired.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:37 PM
if ICE can’t handle will stancil tailing them in his Honda Fit, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening when tens of thousands of New Yorkers bike and take the subway to their location in a matter of minutes
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
January 14, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
I’m seeing lots of people on here misunderstand the purpose of ICE watch.
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 5:37 PM
I’m seeing lots of people on here misunderstand the purpose of ICE watch.
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Good for these prosecutors to put their principles first, but my GOD what a ghoulish, soulless regime MAGA voted for.
But also why it is so important for the Newsoms and the Pritzkers to start talking TODAY about how they'll come for these thugs TOMORROW. So they feel fear TODAY.
But also why it is so important for the Newsoms and the Pritzkers to start talking TODAY about how they'll come for these thugs TOMORROW. So they feel fear TODAY.
3 Prosecutors Quit After Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Good for these prosecutors to put their principles first, but my GOD what a ghoulish, soulless regime MAGA voted for.
But also why it is so important for the Newsoms and the Pritzkers to start talking TODAY about how they'll come for these thugs TOMORROW. So they feel fear TODAY.
But also why it is so important for the Newsoms and the Pritzkers to start talking TODAY about how they'll come for these thugs TOMORROW. So they feel fear TODAY.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Friends, thank you for stepping up! Over $40,000 worth of dash cams have been ordered so far for ICE observers in the Twin Cities!
Early orders are trickling in, but we’re getting them packed and deployed ASAFP - several were installed yesterday, these are ready, and 300+ are on the way!
Early orders are trickling in, but we’re getting them packed and deployed ASAFP - several were installed yesterday, these are ready, and 300+ are on the way!
January 8, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Friends, thank you for stepping up! Over $40,000 worth of dash cams have been ordered so far for ICE observers in the Twin Cities!
Early orders are trickling in, but we’re getting them packed and deployed ASAFP - several were installed yesterday, these are ready, and 300+ are on the way!
Early orders are trickling in, but we’re getting them packed and deployed ASAFP - several were installed yesterday, these are ready, and 300+ are on the way!
David Levy was fired this year, but it's pretty clear his power within the club had been declining for some time. This is one more piece of evidence that he was the only person in management who at least had a plan and overarching strategy. You may not have liked it, but it at least existed.
🚨 EXCL: Tottenham Hotspur closing in on deal to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. Clubs nearing agreement after #THFC made €40m proposal - expected to be accepted by #Atleti + 25yo England international believed to be keen on move 🚨
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
Tottenham advancing in talks over deal for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher
Gallagher has spent 18 months in La Liga after joining Atletico from Chelsea in a £38million deal in the summer of 2024.
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:31 PM
David Levy was fired this year, but it's pretty clear his power within the club had been declining for some time. This is one more piece of evidence that he was the only person in management who at least had a plan and overarching strategy. You may not have liked it, but it at least existed.
Pluribus is a fascinating meditation on an extreme solution to the crux of all political economy: what's the best way to facilitaton cooperation among strangers? Anyway, here's a book I was going to write collapsed to 2500 words.
economistwritingeveryday.com/2026/01/12/t...
economistwritingeveryday.com/2026/01/12/t...
The Cooperative Corridor
The confluence of politics, recent interest in agent-based computational modeling, and Pluribus have convinced me now is the time to write about the “Cooperative Corridor”. At one point…
economistwritingeveryday.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Pluribus is a fascinating meditation on an extreme solution to the crux of all political economy: what's the best way to facilitaton cooperation among strangers? Anyway, here's a book I was going to write collapsed to 2500 words.
economistwritingeveryday.com/2026/01/12/t...
economistwritingeveryday.com/2026/01/12/t...
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
OK, YOU should still absolutely not release a video talking about the charges against you. Powell gets the one-in-a-million exception because he knows what he’s doing and is resisting authoritarian trash.
January 12, 2026 at 3:17 PM
OK, YOU should still absolutely not release a video talking about the charges against you. Powell gets the one-in-a-million exception because he knows what he’s doing and is resisting authoritarian trash.
Reposted by Mike Makowsky
Stephen Colbert on the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good: “The message from this administration is clear. Only they determine the truth. And when their forces come to your city: obey or die. And if you die, you clearly didn’t obey. This should be an alarm bell for the entire country.”
January 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Stephen Colbert on the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good: “The message from this administration is clear. Only they determine the truth. And when their forces come to your city: obey or die. And if you die, you clearly didn’t obey. This should be an alarm bell for the entire country.”