Robert Richards
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rrichard09.bsky.social
Robert Richards
@rrichard09.bsky.social
3K followers 8.5K following 520 posts

I study how people talk about politics and law and participate in governing their communities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone, not those of my employers or institutions.
https://rcrjr.wordpress.com

Videos
Political science 19%
Environmental science 17%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 2h
if you are in the DC area next week i'm moderating a very nerdy panel that should still be a good time www.aapss.org/events/entit...
Entitled to Your Own Facts? Science and Public Policy in a “Post-Truth” America – AAPSS
www.aapss.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

annabower.bsky.social
Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 6h
Read this today ⬇️

www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
He was attacked on Jan. 6. Can he make sense of it for the kids he teaches?
Nathan Tate was a D.C. police officer defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Now he’s trying to find the lesson in it.
www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Nina Jankowicz, Robert C. Richards

thejan6plaque.bsky.social
J6 Plaque @thejan6plaque.bsky.social · 9h
🚨 🚨 🚨

IT’S PHONE CALLS ☎️📱
FOR THE PLAQUE DAY

Join us!
1. Like and REPOST this
2. Call 202-224-3121, ask for your House Rep, and (courteously) tell them you expect ACTION on the Plaque
3. Do Speaker Johnson’s office, too 202-225-4000
4. Post a comment with how it went 👇🏼

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 10h
We now live in the country the Jan. 6 attackers and coup plotters hoped to create.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards

ryanjreilly.com
Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 10h
“What J6ers rarely seem to acknowledge is the possibility that Mr. Trump’s government has failed to reveal the hidden truth about Jan. 6 because there is no hidden truth, no deep-state conspiracy, and therefore no legal reason to bring further charges related to the riot.”
For Many Jan. 6 Rioters, a Pardon From Trump Wasn’t Enough
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

justinhendrix.bsky.social
Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 10h
Five Years After Jan. 6, Lawlessness Has Triumphed: "That day was indeed a turning point, but not the one it first seemed to be. It was a turning point toward a version of Mr. Trump who is even more lawless than the one who governed the country in his first term."
Opinion | Trump Is the Jan. 6 President
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 11h
On the 5th anniversary of a day that should live in infamy, Tom Joscelyn and I discuss our post-January 6 reality. We have a pro-Jan. 6 administration in the White House that doesn't bow to election results or constitutional limits. What does that suggest for 2028?

open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
January 6 Was a Dress Rehearsal For Trump, Not a Finale (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Five years after January 6, Bill Kristol sits down with Tom Joscelyn, the lead writer of the House January 6 Committee report, to assess where the country stands today.
open.substack.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

melissagiragrant.com
Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 11h
When a news outlet writes of January 6, “The political parties refuse to agree to a shared history of the event”—as the AP did here—but not that Trump’s supporters are lying about an event we all watched happen live, how is that not going along with Trump’s lies
Fifth anniversary of Jan. 6 brings fresh division to the Capitol
On the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, there is no official event to memorialize what happened that day.
apnews.com

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Brendan Nyhan, Joshua S. Weitz , and 8 more

maggieastor.bsky.social
Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 22h
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
Ensures that all the diseases covered by the previous immunization schedule will still be available to anyone who wants them through Affordable Care Act insurance plans and federal insurance programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children program. Families will not have to purchase them out of pocket. Among peer nations, the U.S. will continue to offer the most childhood vaccines for free to those who want them.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards, Anne Norton, Brian Keegan

josephcox.bsky.social
Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 1d
The Hilton Hotel that refused reservations from DHS officials has now backpedalled and said it will accommodate them. Came after DHS X account posted emails. For years the right coalesced around businesses being able to refuse customers of certain demographics

www.404media.co/hilton-hotel...
Hilton Hotel That Refused DHS Reservations Backpedals
The hotel told 404 Media in a statement “We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated.”
www.404media.co

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Robert C. Richards

legal.reuters.com
Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com · 1d
JUST IN: Trump administration cannot slash NIH research funding, court rules reut.rs/3N7WzZk

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

raybeckerman.bsky.social
Ray Beckerman @raybeckerman.bsky.social · 1d
Sen. Mark Kelly fires back after Hegseth threatens his rank and retirement pay www.npr.org/2026/01/05/n...
Sen. Mark Kelly fires back after Hegseth threatens his rank and retirement pay
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has launched administrative action against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, which could affect Kelly's rank and retirement pay.
www.npr.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

luckytran.com
Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 1d
It’s official: RFK Jr has officially reduced recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11, removing universal vaccine recommendations for RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis.

This reckless contravention of science is going to kill people.

Reposted by Efrén O. Pérez, Robert C. Richards

nathankalmoe.bsky.social
Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 1d
I'm opening my democratization book w/ the story of an ordinary person who made extraordinary contributions to creating US democracy, & whose story + context link many of the big themes for the book about what we face & how we win in the years ahead.

Thinking Fannie Lou Hamer. Thoughts? Others?

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

mwhanna.crisisgroup.org
Michael Hanna @mwhanna.crisisgroup.org · 1d
My colleague in Caracas, Phil Gunson, on what next for Venezuela.

www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...
Special Episode: What Next for Venezuela? | International Crisis Group
In this special episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group expert Phil Gunson about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Pres...
www.crisisgroup.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

latam.crisisgroup.org
Crisis Group Latinoamérica @latam.crisisgroup.org · 1d
🎧 In this special episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood speaks with Phil Gunson about the U.S. military operation in #Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, President Trump’s stated plans for the country, and what may come next.

www.crisisgroup.org/united-state...
Special Episode: What Next for Venezuela? | International Crisis Group
In this special episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group expert Phil Gunson about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Pres...
www.crisisgroup.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

uoflecon.bsky.social
Jose Fernandez @uoflecon.bsky.social · 1d
Difficult Conversations session this morning. Thank you Gail Hoyt, Monica Garcia, Gerald Daniels, & Stephan Lebefebvre as panelist. Special shout out to Tisha Nakao Emerson chair of the CEE for sponsoring this joint session. #ASSA2026 @aeacsmgep.bsky.social

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

mkn.bsky.social
Megan Kate Nelson 📚 @mkn.bsky.social · 1d
Random Sunday night question for my writer Blueskis who publish book reviews in newspapers / magazines:

What is the going rate these days, for each review?

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

blackfilmalerts.bsky.social
Black Film Alerts 🎥 @blackfilmalerts.bsky.social · 1d
Ryan Coogler wins award for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Sinners’ #CriticsChoiceAwards

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip Nel , and 5 more

phillewis.bsky.social
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 1d
Colin and Sophie Hortman, the children of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, are asking Trump to remove the false posts about their parents' killing:
My father and mother, Mark Hortman and Melissa Hortman, and their dog Gilbert, were killed by a man who believed conspiracy theories and fake news. Words matter. Sharing fake news is dangerous. One part of my grief journey has been understanding the last conversation with my mother. She loved her job. People respected her job and what she did at her job. When I called her after the legislative session ended, I asked why she voted for the bill mentioned in the video shared by President Trump, and she wept. That bill and her vote had nothing to do with fraud. She voted for that bill because it was the only way to avoid a government shutdown. She had seen the impact of shutdowns: people lose their health care, their jobs, and in some cases, from a story she told me, have taken their own lives. She was in a very tough position on that vote. She had never really voted against her conscience like that. It was emotional and extremely difficult. Her struggle with that vote makes this conspiracy all the more painful for me. I am asking President Trump to remove the video that he shared and apologize to me and my family for posting this misinformation and for using my mother's own words to dishonor her memory. My sister Sophia Hortman (Sophie) asked me to share this on her behalf, she is off social media: "The video shared by President Donald Trump on Truth Social is a painful, false twisting of my mother's final vote. The vote she made was incredibly difficult for my mother; it was not a vote made lightly or with malice in her heart. She made the decision to prevent a government shutdown because she believed our great state protects and helps Minnesotans. We must create a society in which we do not harbor hatred and violence toward our political opponents, and this video promotes a false narrative which fuels the flames of political division. The video being shared by the president is another hurdle our family must overcome in grieving the loss of my parents, Mark and Melissa, and their beloved Gilbert. I ask President Trump to please consider the pain and sadness we have faced, and to honor the spirit of the holidays we have just spent without our parents by taking down the post on Truth Social." Please share our message and help us ask the President to take this down.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

bachynski.bsky.social
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d
“Ms. Fagan thought that the exercise should be choose-your-own adventure. She passed out commitment cards that allowed participants to select which items they wanted to leave behind, and why. They could also check off exceptions like “computer use in the library” and “calling my mother.”
One Week Without Smartphones on a College Campus
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

walterolson.bsky.social
Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d
Here it is, my new piece on the Trump administration's shifting and fluid rationales for its Venezuelan action.
The rendition of Nicolás Maduro: oil's well that ends well
The Trump administration has offered a variety of rationales for its action, but it's hard to identify any that are both credible and creditable.
walterolson.substack.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Timothy D. McBride , and 1 more

nhannahjones.bsky.social
Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 1d
So many in media are ill-equipped to interview officials about what’s happening because they begin with the presumption of legitimacy and don’t know enough about history or U.S. foreign policy to foment intelligent pushback and hold officials accountable.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

beckykeene.com
Becky Keene 🦋 @beckykeene.com · 2d
Today I discovered that my book is “Frequently purchased together” with Ethan Mollick’s book, Co-Intelligence, according to Amazon. That makes my author heart so happy, because I really respect Ethan and his NYT bestselling work! #AIOptimism

rrichard09.bsky.social
Robert Richards @rrichard09.bsky.social · 2d
cc @marisakabas.bsky.social

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

chalkbeat.org
Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · 2d
Why does the Trump administration want to eliminate the Department of Education? What does it mean for students, educators, and parents? Join us for this discussion with Lindsey Burke, the department's deputy chief of staff for policy and programs: ckbe.at/4arS85q

rrichard09.bsky.social
Robert Richards @rrichard09.bsky.social · 2d
"In 2014, Mantel was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire"
us.macmillan.com/author/hilar...
Hilary Mantel | Authors | Macmillan
Hilary Mantel was the author of the bestselling novel Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, which both won the Booker Prize. The final novel of the ...
us.macmillan.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Robert C. Richards, Mark Rice

stephenwest.bsky.social
Stephen West @stephenwest.bsky.social · 2d
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its final report last month, documenting 38 lynchings in that state. It also makes 84 recommendations, covering education, public memorials, and police and judicial reform.

But reparations grab the headline here.
Maryland studied its complicity in lynchings. Are reparations next?
The new House speaker launched the nation’s only government-backed commission to hold a state accountable for racial terror. It recommended 84 ways to atone.
wapo.st

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

jkbjournalist.bsky.social
Julie K. Brown @jkbjournalist.bsky.social · 2d
Subscriber Chat on the Epstein case tomorrow, 1/5/26 open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...
Q & A on the Epstein Files
Monday, 1/5/26
open.substack.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

lawfaremedia.org
Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 2d
🚨 Starting in 1 HOUR 🚨

At 3pm ET, watch @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org discuss the U.S. strike on Venezuela and Maduro's capture with Senior Editor @sranderson.bsky.social, Foreign Policy Editor Dana Stuster, and Public Service Fellow Loren Voss here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawf...