Phil Rocco
@philiprocco.bsky.social
politologue // yinzer // co-editor of Publius: The Journal of Federalism // author of "Counting Like a State" https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700638758/counting-like-a-state/
Most posts are first drafts, comments welcome.
Most posts are first drafts, comments welcome.
Pinned
Phil Rocco
@philiprocco.bsky.social
· Mar 5
Counting Like a State
An inside look at the 2020 Census that shows the importance of state and local cooperation in the complex federal project of census taking.The census plays a...
kansaspress.ku.edu
Census 2030 will be the subject of a prolonged political assault. We can learn a lot from what state and local governments and NGOs did to save the 2020 Census. I document those strategies in my forthcoming @univpressofkansas.bsky.social book. kansaspress.ku.edu/978070063875...
Reposted by Phil Rocco
@edwardluce.bsky.social on track here. But important to stress that the absence of legal rules does not mean that there isnt a clear logic. See @segoddard.bsky.social and my work on neo-royalists order.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
January 3, 2026 at 8:32 PM
@edwardluce.bsky.social on track here. But important to stress that the absence of legal rules does not mean that there isnt a clear logic. See @segoddard.bsky.social and my work on neo-royalists order.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
“companies with pending claims could now be among the first in line to receive a massive windfall from a new Trump-installed Venezuelan government that is willing to funnel the South American country’s cash to corporate plaintiffs.”
BREAKING: Just weeks before the military operation in Venezuela to capture Maduro, energy giant Halliburton filed an unusual lawsuit in international court claiming the Venezuelan government owed them damages for U.S. sanctions against the country.
There’s more…
www.levernews.com/corporations...
There’s more…
www.levernews.com/corporations...
Corporations Invested In Lawsuits Before Venezuela Invasion
Trump’s removal of President Nicolas Maduro could tilt international court proceedings and provide a windfall to corporate plaintiffs.
www.levernews.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:14 AM
“companies with pending claims could now be among the first in line to receive a massive windfall from a new Trump-installed Venezuelan government that is willing to funnel the South American country’s cash to corporate plaintiffs.”
Reposted by Phil Rocco
A CBS News staffer told me this after Tony Dokoupil kicked off his CBS Evening News tenure tonight with a lengthy Pete Hegseth interview:
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
January 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
A CBS News staffer told me this after Tony Dokoupil kicked off his CBS Evening News tenure tonight with a lengthy Pete Hegseth interview:
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
"If this is what Bari and Tony’s CBS Evening News is going to look like, then the we may as well just call ourselves Trump Administration State TV. Pathetic."
Reposted by Phil Rocco
The US has already killed innocent civilians in Venezuela. Stop acting as though this attack was legitimate and the only problems are in a hypothetical future.
The Venezuelan people elected Edmundo González to run their country.
Not Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio.
The American people do not support another expensive foreign war that risks the lives of our men and women in uniform.
Not Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio.
The American people do not support another expensive foreign war that risks the lives of our men and women in uniform.
January 4, 2026 at 1:58 AM
The US has already killed innocent civilians in Venezuela. Stop acting as though this attack was legitimate and the only problems are in a hypothetical future.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Greg Grandin offers his reading of what is transpiring in Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Greg Grandin offers his reading of what is transpiring in Venezuela.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok!
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
The NYT Recruiting Brochure for New College
A failing Ron DeSantis higher ed experiment gets a boost
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok!
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Massive comms challenge for people who care about voting rights and 2026: make sure people understand these new voter suppression laws re: the timing of mail in voting so that their votes won't be lost — esp. difficult because the laws vary across states, creating ambiguity that can be exploited.
Until Trump began conspiracies about mail voting, Republicans were fully on board with GRACE PERIODS for ballots to arrive as long as postmarked by Election Day. They passed it overwhelmingly in KS, OH, & elsewhere.
But now Trump hates it.
So 4 red states—KS, OH, ND, UT—all banned it this year.
But now Trump hates it.
So 4 red states—KS, OH, ND, UT—all banned it this year.
Ohio Bans Grace Periods for Mail Ballots, Fulfilling Trump’s Wishes - Bolts
Ohio is the fourth GOP-run state this year to ban ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive after. A Supreme Court case could force that policy nationwide next year.
boltsmag.org
December 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Massive comms challenge for people who care about voting rights and 2026: make sure people understand these new voter suppression laws re: the timing of mail in voting so that their votes won't be lost — esp. difficult because the laws vary across states, creating ambiguity that can be exploited.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Incredible social science & data use here.
The immediate story is about how the opioid epidemic (pushed by pharma in high cancer areas), resulted in major opioid death & economic hardship which - through various media/political channels - resulted in a sustained rise in support for the Republicans
The immediate story is about how the opioid epidemic (pushed by pharma in high cancer areas), resulted in major opioid death & economic hardship which - through various media/political channels - resulted in a sustained rise in support for the Republicans
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects of the Opioid Epidemic,” by Arteaga (@caroartc.bsky.social) and Barone (@vickybarone.bsky.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects Of the Opioid Epidemic
Abstract. In this paper, we establish a causal connection between two of the most salient social developments in the United States over the past decades: t
doi.org
December 27, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Incredible social science & data use here.
The immediate story is about how the opioid epidemic (pushed by pharma in high cancer areas), resulted in major opioid death & economic hardship which - through various media/political channels - resulted in a sustained rise in support for the Republicans
The immediate story is about how the opioid epidemic (pushed by pharma in high cancer areas), resulted in major opioid death & economic hardship which - through various media/political channels - resulted in a sustained rise in support for the Republicans
Really useful report here from PPI on how state / local government actions can curtail mass deportations. This only captures only the role of local noncooperation policies at blocking ICE access to jails etc (and not the power of community defense). But significant nonetheless.
New ICE arrest data show the power of state and local governments to curtail mass deportations
Using fresh data on ICE arrests through mid-October from the Deportation Data Project, we examine how jails continue to facilitate mass deportation, spotlighting important opportunities ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
December 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Really useful report here from PPI on how state / local government actions can curtail mass deportations. This only captures only the role of local noncooperation policies at blocking ICE access to jails etc (and not the power of community defense). But significant nonetheless.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
December 27, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Check out the special issue in the Future of Federalism published by Publius.
Thrilled to be in excellent company #federalism
Thrilled to be in excellent company #federalism
It has been a bracing moment for American federalism, with both unprecedented efforts to extend executive control over state and local govts, novel forms of subnational resistance. Where is federalism going? Paul Nolette and I have edited a new issue of Publius on that question. Short thread:
December 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Check out the special issue in the Future of Federalism published by Publius.
Thrilled to be in excellent company #federalism
Thrilled to be in excellent company #federalism
Reposted by Phil Rocco
This is very bad.
Trump’s DOJ offers states confidential deal to remove voters flagged by feds • Stateline
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent confidential draft agreements on voter data sharing to more than a dozen states, part of the Trump administration’s effort to obtain unredacted voter rolls, wit...
stateline.org
December 26, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is very bad.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Can't wait to read this 👇
It has been a bracing moment for American federalism, with both unprecedented efforts to extend executive control over state and local govts, novel forms of subnational resistance. Where is federalism going? Paul Nolette and I have edited a new issue of Publius on that question. Short thread:
December 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Can't wait to read this 👇
It has been a bracing moment for American federalism, with both unprecedented efforts to extend executive control over state and local govts, novel forms of subnational resistance. Where is federalism going? Paul Nolette and I have edited a new issue of Publius on that question. Short thread:
December 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
It has been a bracing moment for American federalism, with both unprecedented efforts to extend executive control over state and local govts, novel forms of subnational resistance. Where is federalism going? Paul Nolette and I have edited a new issue of Publius on that question. Short thread:
Reposted by Phil Rocco
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
The Wisconsin component of the analysis here is revealing. Evidence is consistent with DOGE strategically delaying contract terminations in WI until after the 2025 state Supreme Court elections to mitigate electoral risk.
December 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Wisconsin component of the analysis here is revealing. Evidence is consistent with DOGE strategically delaying contract terminations in WI until after the 2025 state Supreme Court elections to mitigate electoral risk.
A matter of tradition: youtu.be/4ZZ8m8I2kE4?...
Mark E Smith Reads An Xmas Story For BBC Collective
YouTube video by BBCCollective
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 2:41 AM
A matter of tradition: youtu.be/4ZZ8m8I2kE4?...
Reposted by Phil Rocco
The scale of elite support for this terrible book is interesting information about public health politics
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The scale of elite support for this terrible book is interesting information about public health politics
Anecdotal, but not a single student complained about blue books or about my tech ban in class. They understood why I was doing it and some even explicitly appreciated it.
Does anyone else bristle at this framing? WSJ says blue books are “torturing” students with hand cramps, and “nobody likes them.”
Listen, students have been outsourcing everything to AI and cheating their way through college. Blue books should be celebrated as a return to authentic human learning.
Listen, students have been outsourcing everything to AI and cheating their way through college. Blue books should be celebrated as a return to authentic human learning.
They Were Every Student’s Worst Nightmare. Now Blue Books Are Back.
Cheating with ChatGPT has become a huge problem for colleges. The solution is painfully old-school.
www.wsj.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Anecdotal, but not a single student complained about blue books or about my tech ban in class. They understood why I was doing it and some even explicitly appreciated it.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
ICYMI during the shutdown, here’s the announcement for the governors public health alliance (GPHA?)
December 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
ICYMI during the shutdown, here’s the announcement for the governors public health alliance (GPHA?)
Christmas is M.R. James season. Not only because his stories define the “ghost story for Xmas” genre but also because they contain so many important lessons for academics, including “beware reacting someone from a conference when they are in league w/ demons”. gutenberg.ca/ebooks/james...
Casting the Runes,
by M. R. James
gutenberg.ca
December 24, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Christmas is M.R. James season. Not only because his stories define the “ghost story for Xmas” genre but also because they contain so many important lessons for academics, including “beware reacting someone from a conference when they are in league w/ demons”. gutenberg.ca/ebooks/james...
Reposted by Phil Rocco
Justice Alito seems to have missed that the government's account of the Marimar Martinez shooting has been completely discredited.
December 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Justice Alito seems to have missed that the government's account of the Marimar Martinez shooting has been completely discredited.
Reposted by Phil Rocco
BREAKING: by an apparent vote of 7–2, the Supreme Court has *denied* President Trump‘s plea to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
BREAKING: by an apparent vote of 7–2, the Supreme Court has *denied* President Trump‘s plea to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago
Reposted by Phil Rocco
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5