Mike Wagner
@prowag.bsky.social
William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea, Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, U of Wisconsin-Madison. Director, Center for Communication and Civic Renewal. Inflated sense of karaoke ability. 10/10 Room Rater.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Excellent thread 🧵
Some thoughts on what Trump has done in Venezuela and what it might mean for US national security. Caveat: not a Latin America scholar so this is focused on US policy. Clearly huge consequences for Venezuela that others can address.
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
January 3, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Excellent thread 🧵
How is the U.S. public going to react to the invasion of Venezuela & capture of Maduro? Regardless of legality (which legal scholars I’ve seen say is plainly illegal), we can apply the late UW professor Murray Edelman’s work here to think about public response in our fractured media environment. 1/
January 3, 2026 at 2:44 PM
How is the U.S. public going to react to the invasion of Venezuela & capture of Maduro? Regardless of legality (which legal scholars I’ve seen say is plainly illegal), we can apply the late UW professor Murray Edelman’s work here to think about public response in our fractured media environment. 1/
Reposted by Mike Wagner
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
January 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is free. It comes out weekly on Sundays. Join now to stay up to date in 2026: www.techpolicy.press/newsletter/
Newsletter | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.
www.techpolicy.press
December 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The Tech Policy Press newsletter is free. It comes out weekly on Sundays. Join now to stay up to date in 2026: www.techpolicy.press/newsletter/
Reposted by Mike Wagner
This is the real cancel culture.
Using the full force of the government to punish perceived enemies, aid their billionaire tech cronies, and protect pedophiles, neo-Nazis, and other extremist, antisemitic hate groups.
THIS is the threat to our rights and freedoms.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/t...
Using the full force of the government to punish perceived enemies, aid their billionaire tech cronies, and protect pedophiles, neo-Nazis, and other extremist, antisemitic hate groups.
THIS is the threat to our rights and freedoms.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/t...
U.S. Bars 5 European Tech Regulators and Researchers
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This is the real cancel culture.
Using the full force of the government to punish perceived enemies, aid their billionaire tech cronies, and protect pedophiles, neo-Nazis, and other extremist, antisemitic hate groups.
THIS is the threat to our rights and freedoms.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/t...
Using the full force of the government to punish perceived enemies, aid their billionaire tech cronies, and protect pedophiles, neo-Nazis, and other extremist, antisemitic hate groups.
THIS is the threat to our rights and freedoms.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/t...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
How do we teach students to disagree productively? A new UW–Madison feature spotlights ERC affiliate Amber Wichowsky’s course, Advancing Public Policy in a Divided America and how students can learn to practice disagreement productively.
🔗 news.wisc.edu/teaching-stu...
🔗 news.wisc.edu/teaching-stu...
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
How do we teach students to disagree productively? A new UW–Madison feature spotlights ERC affiliate Amber Wichowsky’s course, Advancing Public Policy in a Divided America and how students can learn to practice disagreement productively.
🔗 news.wisc.edu/teaching-stu...
🔗 news.wisc.edu/teaching-stu...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Goals for America:
The survey also showed enormous gaps between the parties on which democratic values they endorse as goals for America, with far greater endorsement among Democrats. 6/
The survey also showed enormous gaps between the parties on which democratic values they endorse as goals for America, with far greater endorsement among Democrats. 6/
December 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Goals for America:
The survey also showed enormous gaps between the parties on which democratic values they endorse as goals for America, with far greater endorsement among Democrats. 6/
The survey also showed enormous gaps between the parties on which democratic values they endorse as goals for America, with far greater endorsement among Democrats. 6/
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Party Strategy:
Delegates in both parties were evenly split when forced to choose an election strategy of mobilizing existing supporters versus persuading undecided voters. But each party thinks the other does a little better when they do more persuading. 3/
Delegates in both parties were evenly split when forced to choose an election strategy of mobilizing existing supporters versus persuading undecided voters. But each party thinks the other does a little better when they do more persuading. 3/
December 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Party Strategy:
Delegates in both parties were evenly split when forced to choose an election strategy of mobilizing existing supporters versus persuading undecided voters. But each party thinks the other does a little better when they do more persuading. 3/
Delegates in both parties were evenly split when forced to choose an election strategy of mobilizing existing supporters versus persuading undecided voters. But each party thinks the other does a little better when they do more persuading. 3/
Reposted by Mike Wagner
From @jticona.bsky.social and Caitlin Petre, some great insights for policy and organizing from their interviews with artists grappling with the economic and labor impacts of AI
Opinion | Will Creative Work Survive A.I.?
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
From @jticona.bsky.social and Caitlin Petre, some great insights for policy and organizing from their interviews with artists grappling with the economic and labor impacts of AI
Reposted by Mike Wagner
How did Twitter users react right after Elon Musk bought the social media site? @macaukfmak.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang and I used a panel survey (wave 1 before Musk took control of Twitter, wave 2 after) to find out. 1/ urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
To quit or not to quit Twitter? The interplay of identities, perceptions, and behavioral reactions to changing platform ownership
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now ‘X’) raised concerns about its governance and functioning. Using this as a case study, we propose a framework to analyze the interplay of social identities, ...
urldefense.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
How did Twitter users react right after Elon Musk bought the social media site? @macaukfmak.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang and I used a panel survey (wave 1 before Musk took control of Twitter, wave 2 after) to find out. 1/ urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
Congratulations to Dr. Abby Youran Qin (@abbyqin.bsky.social) , who defended her terrific dissertation today. She’s off to a postdoc at @ascor.bsky.social. I’m very proud to be her adviser and collaborator!
December 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Congratulations to Dr. Abby Youran Qin (@abbyqin.bsky.social) , who defended her terrific dissertation today. She’s off to a postdoc at @ascor.bsky.social. I’m very proud to be her adviser and collaborator!
Reposted by Mike Wagner
First, here's a link to the full report, which covers delegates' views on party strategy, goals for America, media trust, and experiences with threats. 2/ cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
cccr.wisc.edu
December 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
First, here's a link to the full report, which covers delegates' views on party strategy, goals for America, media trust, and experiences with threats. 2/ cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
CCCRers @nathankalmoe.bsky.social & @prowag.bsky.social have a post on party convention delegates in Tusk today! Thanks to @smotus.bsky.social for the guest post & @bcburden.bsky.social for organizing the survey!
Below is a 🧵 w/ more details from the report. 1/ smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Below is a 🧵 w/ more details from the report. 1/ smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Republican and Democratic convention delegates agree on strategy and not much else
A look at a new survey on party convention delegates
smotus.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM
CCCRers @nathankalmoe.bsky.social & @prowag.bsky.social have a post on party convention delegates in Tusk today! Thanks to @smotus.bsky.social for the guest post & @bcburden.bsky.social for organizing the survey!
Below is a 🧵 w/ more details from the report. 1/ smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Below is a 🧵 w/ more details from the report. 1/ smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
New at Tusk, the results of a survey on party convention delegates, from @nathankalmoe.bsky.social and @prowag.bsky.social. Party differences go beyond just policy.
Republican and Democratic convention delegates agree on strategy and not much else
A look at a new survey on party convention delegates
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:47 PM
New at Tusk, the results of a survey on party convention delegates, from @nathankalmoe.bsky.social and @prowag.bsky.social. Party differences go beyond just policy.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Full survey report here:
cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
cccr.wisc.edu
December 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Full survey report here:
cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
cccr.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Nice guest post up at Tusk from @nathankalmoe.bsky.social and @prowag.bsky.social on the results of a @bcburden.bsky.social survey of 2024 national convention delegates from both parties.
smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Republican and Democratic convention delegates agree on strategy and not much else
A look at a new survey on party convention delegates
smotus.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Nice guest post up at Tusk from @nathankalmoe.bsky.social and @prowag.bsky.social on the results of a @bcburden.bsky.social survey of 2024 national convention delegates from both parties.
smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
smotus.substack.com/p/republican...
Thanks for letting us crash the party, Seth! cc: @nathankalmoe.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Thanks for letting us crash the party, Seth! cc: @nathankalmoe.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Step 1: Fire the experts funding American science.
Step 2: Change review process. (You are here)
Step 3: Hire partisans to fund ideologues.
Step 4: Bemoan the lack progress, gut remaining science funding.
Step 2: Change review process. (You are here)
Step 3: Hire partisans to fund ideologues.
Step 4: Bemoan the lack progress, gut remaining science funding.
NSF plans to streamline merit review to heal self-inflicted staffing wound www.science.org/content/arti...
NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
www.science.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Step 1: Fire the experts funding American science.
Step 2: Change review process. (You are here)
Step 3: Hire partisans to fund ideologues.
Step 4: Bemoan the lack progress, gut remaining science funding.
Step 2: Change review process. (You are here)
Step 3: Hire partisans to fund ideologues.
Step 4: Bemoan the lack progress, gut remaining science funding.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Check out our new article looking at who wanted to quit Twitter and who decided to wait and see after ownership of the platform changed hands.
How did Twitter users react right after Elon Musk bought the social media site? @macaukfmak.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang and I used a panel survey (wave 1 before Musk took control of Twitter, wave 2 after) to find out. 1/ urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
To quit or not to quit Twitter? The interplay of identities, perceptions, and behavioral reactions to changing platform ownership
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now ‘X’) raised concerns about its governance and functioning. Using this as a case study, we propose a framework to analyze the interplay of social identities, ...
urldefense.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Check out our new article looking at who wanted to quit Twitter and who decided to wait and see after ownership of the platform changed hands.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Kudos to the amazing leading author @macaukfmak.bsky.social and wonderful collaborators @prowag.bsky.social & Sijia Yang. One of my favorite projects from Madison. Please check out two summary threads from Macau and Mike:
1) bsky.app/profile/maca...
2) bsky.app/profile/prow...
DM for a free copy!
1) bsky.app/profile/maca...
2) bsky.app/profile/prow...
DM for a free copy!
How did people react to Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover? Using panel survey data before/after the change, we (@macaukfmak.bsky.social @prowag.bsky.social Sijia Yang) find asymmetric perceptions and a lagging resistance: users intend to quit, but haven’t reduced use. www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RYKKH...
To quit or not to quit Twitter? The interplay of identities, perceptions, and behavioral reactions to changing platform ownership
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now ‘X’) raised concerns about its governance and functioning. Using this as a case study, we propose a framework to analyze the interplay of social identities, ...
www.tandfonline.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Kudos to the amazing leading author @macaukfmak.bsky.social and wonderful collaborators @prowag.bsky.social & Sijia Yang. One of my favorite projects from Madison. Please check out two summary threads from Macau and Mike:
1) bsky.app/profile/maca...
2) bsky.app/profile/prow...
DM for a free copy!
1) bsky.app/profile/maca...
2) bsky.app/profile/prow...
DM for a free copy!
Check out our new article looking at who wanted to quit Twitter and who decided to wait and see after ownership of the platform changed hands.
How did Twitter users react right after Elon Musk bought the social media site? @macaukfmak.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang and I used a panel survey (wave 1 before Musk took control of Twitter, wave 2 after) to find out. 1/ urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
To quit or not to quit Twitter? The interplay of identities, perceptions, and behavioral reactions to changing platform ownership
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now ‘X’) raised concerns about its governance and functioning. Using this as a case study, we propose a framework to analyze the interplay of social identities, ...
urldefense.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Check out our new article looking at who wanted to quit Twitter and who decided to wait and see after ownership of the platform changed hands.
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Want to improve your writing? Here's the latest in my series on writing for a broader audience. Let me know if it's useful!
ejgraff.substack.com/p/show-reade...
ejgraff.substack.com/p/show-reade...
Show readers where you're going
Plant roadsigns to help readers follow your argument. Then they'll stay with you on surprising turns — or when you throw in a kangaroo.
ejgraff.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Want to improve your writing? Here's the latest in my series on writing for a broader audience. Let me know if it's useful!
ejgraff.substack.com/p/show-reade...
ejgraff.substack.com/p/show-reade...
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Using panel survey data collected before and after Elon Musk’s takeover, we ( @prowag.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang) find evidence of lagging resistance: users who view the takeover negatively intend to quit Twitter but do not (yet) reduce their actual use. 1/ shorturl.at/x3syg
To quit or not to quit Twitter? The interplay of identities, perceptions, and behavioral reactions to changing platform ownership
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now ‘X’) raised concerns about its governance and functioning. Using this as a case study, we propose a framework to analyze the interplay of social identities, ...
shorturl.at
December 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Using panel survey data collected before and after Elon Musk’s takeover, we ( @prowag.bsky.social @zeningduan.bsky.social Sijia Yang) find evidence of lagging resistance: users who view the takeover negatively intend to quit Twitter but do not (yet) reduce their actual use. 1/ shorturl.at/x3syg
Reposted by Mike Wagner
Has anyone tried to explain to the owner of the Washington Post that, hey, money is not everything.
The Washington Post, everyone
December 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Has anyone tried to explain to the owner of the Washington Post that, hey, money is not everything.