Robert Brehm
@robertbrehm.bsky.social
PhD student in American Politics at the University of Virginia | MPH from the University of Minnesota | MGPS from the LBJ School at the University of Texas
Reposted by Robert Brehm
publish or perish 🤷♀️
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
publish or perish 🤷♀️
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Conspiracy theories about health fill a vacuum created by the lack of doctors in many rural communities. Meanwhile, doctors in these areas say patients have become increasingly distrustful and sometimes hostile. n.pr/4nRqsdT
In rural America, scarce doctors battle misinformation as they practice medicine
Conspiracy theories about health fill a vacuum created by the lack of doctors in many rural communities. Meanwhile, doctors in these areas say patients have become increasingly distrustful and sometimes hostile.
n.pr
October 15, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Conspiracy theories about health fill a vacuum created by the lack of doctors in many rural communities. Meanwhile, doctors in these areas say patients have become increasingly distrustful and sometimes hostile. n.pr/4nRqsdT
Ouch @sammonson.com - tough beat flipping from the Pats to Cowboys in the Survivor pool
October 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Ouch @sammonson.com - tough beat flipping from the Pats to Cowboys in the Survivor pool
Reposted by Robert Brehm
new polls website just dropped fiftyplusone.news
October 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM
new polls website just dropped fiftyplusone.news
Reposted by Robert Brehm
"We're doing the studies to make the proof."
This is the first lesson you learn in Pseudoscience 101. Followed by "well actually, correlation *is* causation."
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
This is the first lesson you learn in Pseudoscience 101. Followed by "well actually, correlation *is* causation."
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
Kennedy reups unproven Tylenol-autism link during Cabinet meeting
Health Secretary Robert F
abcnews.go.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"We're doing the studies to make the proof."
This is the first lesson you learn in Pseudoscience 101. Followed by "well actually, correlation *is* causation."
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
This is the first lesson you learn in Pseudoscience 101. Followed by "well actually, correlation *is* causation."
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
Demercado drops the ball ahead of the goal line. Make it make sense @sammonson.com
October 5, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Demercado drops the ball ahead of the goal line. Make it make sense @sammonson.com
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Reposted by Robert Brehm
“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”
V-Dem data
V-Dem data
When autocratization is reversed: episodes of U-Turns since 1900
The world is in a “wave of autocratization.” Yet, recent events in Brazil, the Maldives, and Zambia demonstrate that autocratization can be halted and reversed. This article introduces “U-Turn” as ...
www.tandfonline.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”
V-Dem data
V-Dem data
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Monarez: "Kennedy demanded 2 things of me that were were inconsistent w/ my oath of office. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause"
September 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Monarez: "Kennedy demanded 2 things of me that were were inconsistent w/ my oath of office. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause"
Reposted by Robert Brehm
colleagues in political science. the formal update to the Garand and Giles journal ranking survey is now live. many of you will receive an email momentarily inviting you to participate. in the event you do NOT receive an invitation, please see this website to self-enroll. thanks! sharing = caring!
Participating
The Evaluation of Publication in Political Research study is open to serious producers and consumers of political research, including faculty in institutions of higher education, doctoral students,…
eppr.study
September 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
colleagues in political science. the formal update to the Garand and Giles journal ranking survey is now live. many of you will receive an email momentarily inviting you to participate. in the event you do NOT receive an invitation, please see this website to self-enroll. thanks! sharing = caring!
Reposted by Robert Brehm
New, from me:
It was a terrible week, one that inspired some truly awful takes. The worst was the effort by Bari Weiss and The Free Press to smear universities as "the biggest culprits" to blame American political violence, with faculty training "jihadis."
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-worst-...
It was a terrible week, one that inspired some truly awful takes. The worst was the effort by Bari Weiss and The Free Press to smear universities as "the biggest culprits" to blame American political violence, with faculty training "jihadis."
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-worst-...
The worst takes from a bad week
The Free Press, about to take over CBS News, blames universities for American political violence
donmoynihan.substack.com
September 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
New, from me:
It was a terrible week, one that inspired some truly awful takes. The worst was the effort by Bari Weiss and The Free Press to smear universities as "the biggest culprits" to blame American political violence, with faculty training "jihadis."
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-worst-...
It was a terrible week, one that inspired some truly awful takes. The worst was the effort by Bari Weiss and The Free Press to smear universities as "the biggest culprits" to blame American political violence, with faculty training "jihadis."
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-worst-...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Viewpoint: Four tips for understanding this week’s ACIP meeting
The Vaccine Integrity Project thought it would be good to provide 4 helpful reminders, such as VAERS data do not prove causation
www.cidrap.umn.edu/v...
The Vaccine Integrity Project thought it would be good to provide 4 helpful reminders, such as VAERS data do not prove causation
www.cidrap.umn.edu/v...
September 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Viewpoint: Four tips for understanding this week’s ACIP meeting
The Vaccine Integrity Project thought it would be good to provide 4 helpful reminders, such as VAERS data do not prove causation
www.cidrap.umn.edu/v...
The Vaccine Integrity Project thought it would be good to provide 4 helpful reminders, such as VAERS data do not prove causation
www.cidrap.umn.edu/v...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Parental support for school vaccine mandates remains high in US
Earlier this month, Kennedy told the media that he does not believe the federal government should mandate any vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Earlier this month, Kennedy told the media that he does not believe the federal government should mandate any vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
September 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Parental support for school vaccine mandates remains high in US
Earlier this month, Kennedy told the media that he does not believe the federal government should mandate any vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Earlier this month, Kennedy told the media that he does not believe the federal government should mandate any vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
I never want shootings on campus to happen and I never want to see them on social media.
September 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I never want shootings on campus to happen and I never want to see them on social media.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Incredible parallels in this Berinsky &
@gabelenz.bsky.social paper. Politicians didn't stand up to Joe McCarthy in large part because they incorrectly inferred McCarthy/ism was extremely popular. Not standing up to McCarthy was a kind of 1950s Popularism
gated academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
@gabelenz.bsky.social paper. Politicians didn't stand up to Joe McCarthy in large part because they incorrectly inferred McCarthy/ism was extremely popular. Not standing up to McCarthy was a kind of 1950s Popularism
gated academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
September 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Incredible parallels in this Berinsky &
@gabelenz.bsky.social paper. Politicians didn't stand up to Joe McCarthy in large part because they incorrectly inferred McCarthy/ism was extremely popular. Not standing up to McCarthy was a kind of 1950s Popularism
gated academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
@gabelenz.bsky.social paper. Politicians didn't stand up to Joe McCarthy in large part because they incorrectly inferred McCarthy/ism was extremely popular. Not standing up to McCarthy was a kind of 1950s Popularism
gated academic.oup.com/poq/article/...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
FDA is authorizing anybody with a risk factor from this list to receive the vaccines, as well as anybody 65+.
August 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
FDA is authorizing anybody with a risk factor from this list to receive the vaccines, as well as anybody 65+.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Then and now in color.
Minor Threat in 1981 and 2018
#punk #punks #punkrock #punklegends #hardcorepunk #minorthreat #history #punkrockhistory
Minor Threat in 1981 and 2018
#punk #punks #punkrock #punklegends #hardcorepunk #minorthreat #history #punkrockhistory
October 13, 2024 at 6:49 AM
Then and now in color.
Minor Threat in 1981 and 2018
#punk #punks #punkrock #punklegends #hardcorepunk #minorthreat #history #punkrockhistory
Minor Threat in 1981 and 2018
#punk #punks #punkrock #punklegends #hardcorepunk #minorthreat #history #punkrockhistory
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Screening in emergency departments could help boost vaccine coverage, survey suggests
The survey of adults in 10 US EDs found 86% were not up to date with recommended vaccines, but nearly half said they would be willing to get a missing shot if offered.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
The survey of adults in 10 US EDs found 86% were not up to date with recommended vaccines, but nearly half said they would be willing to get a missing shot if offered.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
August 8, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Screening in emergency departments could help boost vaccine coverage, survey suggests
The survey of adults in 10 US EDs found 86% were not up to date with recommended vaccines, but nearly half said they would be willing to get a missing shot if offered.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
The survey of adults in 10 US EDs found 86% were not up to date with recommended vaccines, but nearly half said they would be willing to get a missing shot if offered.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
RESULT: Democrats have defended a state Senate seat in Rhode Island by a margin of 82% to 16%. So that's a victory by 66 percentage points.
Harris had carried this district by 11 percentage points in November. This is the 2nd biggest overperformance for Democrats so far this year.
Harris had carried this district by 11 percentage points in November. This is the 2nd biggest overperformance for Democrats so far this year.
August 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
RESULT: Democrats have defended a state Senate seat in Rhode Island by a margin of 82% to 16%. So that's a victory by 66 percentage points.
Harris had carried this district by 11 percentage points in November. This is the 2nd biggest overperformance for Democrats so far this year.
Harris had carried this district by 11 percentage points in November. This is the 2nd biggest overperformance for Democrats so far this year.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Horrific. mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and could save millions more.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
August 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Horrific. mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and could save millions more.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a UMN expert on infectious diseases & pandemic preparations.
www.huffpost.com/entry/rfk-va...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
They really won’t stop until every expert has been removed from any aspect of vaccination in America.
www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/h...
HHS further constrains certain vaccine advisers to the CDC, limiting their input in evidence reviews | CNN
In a further jolt to the process of reviewing and recommending vaccines at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another group of outside advisers to the agency was abruptly sidelined thi...
www.cnn.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
They really won’t stop until every expert has been removed from any aspect of vaccination in America.
www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/h...
Reposted by Robert Brehm
New at Tusk: Texas Republicans did the exact same thing in 2003 and paid no price for it. So here we are again.
The Texas redistricting. No, the other one.
All this has happened before, and it all will happen again
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New at Tusk: Texas Republicans did the exact same thing in 2003 and paid no price for it. So here we are again.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
One of the more interesting questions about the new Texas maps is whether Ds can mount serious campaigns in these newly competitive districts and begin to revive the Dem Party in Texas. Long term we have to learn how to make FL or TX competitive. This overreach could jumpstart that process in TX.
High risk, high reward strategy for the Republicans here. Would pick up 5ish seats under 2026 conditions, but that requires Republicans winning nearly 55% statewide. Under 2018 conditions, they could break even or lose a couple seats. A lot of this comes down to how Latinos vote in 26 and beyond
Background:
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
July 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM
One of the more interesting questions about the new Texas maps is whether Ds can mount serious campaigns in these newly competitive districts and begin to revive the Dem Party in Texas. Long term we have to learn how to make FL or TX competitive. This overreach could jumpstart that process in TX.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
At its core, science is about methodically and rigorously determining what is true. Authoritarians rely on destroying anyone’s ability to readily know the truth. They confuse facts and opinions on purpose. Scientists are trained to identify the difference.
5. The right-wing enthusiasm for AI science is not about doing better science faster. It’s about eliminating one of the most effective forms of societal resistance to authoritarian control.
July 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
At its core, science is about methodically and rigorously determining what is true. Authoritarians rely on destroying anyone’s ability to readily know the truth. They confuse facts and opinions on purpose. Scientists are trained to identify the difference.
Reposted by Robert Brehm
Youngkin ran the best statewide campaign of any Republican in the decade I’ve lived in Virginia. Sears is running the worst. She’s completely MIA. Spanberger is going to win by double digits. Republicans are in trouble in the General Assembly, too.
Virginia Republicans are freaking out about Winsome Earle-Sears' disastrous campaign for governor.
From @juliamanchester.bsky.social at @thehill.com.
thehill.com/homenews/cam...
From @juliamanchester.bsky.social at @thehill.com.
thehill.com/homenews/cam...
July 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Youngkin ran the best statewide campaign of any Republican in the decade I’ve lived in Virginia. Sears is running the worst. She’s completely MIA. Spanberger is going to win by double digits. Republicans are in trouble in the General Assembly, too.