Bruce D. Baker
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schoolfinance101.bsky.social
Bruce D. Baker
@schoolfinance101.bsky.social

Professor, Education Finance & Policy
Personal Website: https://schoolfinance101.com
School Finance Indicators Database: https://www.schoolfinancedata.org/
Books: https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/author/bruce-d-baker/

Political science 45%
Sociology 22%
1. Yes, Trump launching a new military operation overseas without Congress’ prior declaration of war or authorization of force is almost certainly unlawful.

2. No, there is no real chance the courts will stop it.

Unfortunately our Constitution means little when the judiciary won’t enforce it.

Our leadership has sent them the message - Yeah, we hate the leader in VZ that you fled, but we still hate you and are going to hunt you down. I can't imagine. (Yes - many are, or at least have been vocal Trump supporters)

Today, I wake up surrounded by neighbors who, on the one hand, are relieved that Maduro has been removed, but nervous for their friends and families in VZ, and on the other hand, are still in hiding here in fear they'll be hunted down, abused by ICE & shipped to place more dangerous than VZ.

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas. You only get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the Unites States if you live in a palace in Tegucigalpa.
Show me the analogue in United States history and tradition that allows America to criminalize foreign powers to possess machine guns.
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.

It’s about oil and regime change.

And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

Illegal and unwise are his guiding principles.

Add racist and misogynist, and you've described the Trump era.
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
Trump promised no “new stupid wars,” yet he’s starting one with Venezuela without congressional approval.

People can’t afford groceries and millions are losing healthcare, but this is where his focus is.

This is unconstitutional and not what the American people asked for.
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
“In conclusion, CBS is a land of contrasts.”

This whole thing reads like a half-assed class project some fifth graders rushed through before Christmas break.

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

I love America, too. But I want my news to be honest with me. Otherwise, it's just sparkling propaganda.
The Bari Weiss effect

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

Billionaires bankrolling data fraud (of Gino) on Twitter.
The Bari Weiss effect
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.

One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

8th Cir.: Missouri law requiring registered sex offenders to put up a sign reading "No candy or treats at this residence" on Halloween violated the 1A bc it was not narrowly tailored since such offenders are already prohibited from participating in Halloween.

ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/01...

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

Expect there to be efforts to pull or restrict funding to Minnesota public colleges. Diane Jones served in the first Trump administration and has the ear of ED officials.
There seems to be a lot of confusion between “lots of professors who lack merit are being hired” (false) and “lots of people with merit are unable to find jobs as professors” (true).
This article advocates for the “Faculty Merit Act” that would — get this — require all faculty applicants to submit their *SAT* scores. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Holy shirts that’s hilarious.
This article advocates for the “Faculty Merit Act” that would — get this — require all faculty applicants to submit their *SAT* scores. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Holy shirts that’s hilarious.

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

One of ACHE’s charts really stood out to me. Associate degrees show an early bump in earnings, but growth levels off. Bachelor’s degree wages keep rising through the 30s, and that’s where the long-term payoff becomes clear. Full story and ACHE analysis linked below.

aldailynews.com/ache-college...

though I think national news outlets have actually been more problematic than state and local reporting for a few decades now.

so much more problematic when this goes national.

As someone who speaks to media frequently, helping helping them identify sources and unpack complex issues, this is so important. I've also seen how media leadership matters so much for covering potentially politically volatile issues. Locally, some things get covered in SOME markets.
so basically our rich oligarchs launched a racist propaganda media campaign to demonize taxpayer-funded childcare, our garbage oligarch press parroted the attack, and now they're going to steal that money to put into their assorted cryptocurrency grifts
‘Scorched-Earth Attack’: Trump Admin Cuts Off Childcare Funds to All States | Common Dreams
"My team and I are exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ell...
www.commondreams.org

Reposted by Bruce D. Baker

New Year’s gift: a new record—#2 on Apple Podcasts (Government) 🎉
Grateful our 2025 Year in Review episode resonated.
Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping The Oath and The Office rise. @johnfugelsang.bsky.social

LIsten here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
There are multiple national political commentators who earnestly predicted that Eric Adams would be a legitimate presidential candidate and a national figurehead of the Democratic party by now and those commentators still have careers somehow.
And please, PLEASE let us not forget that time in 2023 when Karen Smith was elected President of the school board in Bucks County, Pa and swore her oath on a stack of banned books. The most gangsta oath ever! Just brilliant. www.edweek.org/leadership/t...
This School Board President Took Her Oath on a Stack of Contested Books. Here's Why
The school board for Central Bucks County, Pa., has been at the center of divisive political debates.
www.edweek.org

When you spend your life studying an issue, learning the best methods for studying an issue, the volumes of research that presently exist on that issue, you necessarily come to conclusions & take sides (sure, new data can shift those conclusions. that's the point). that's why "experts" are EXPERTS!

On a related note, to those who assert that scholars shouldn't "take sides" on questions/issues of public importance - Scholars express conclusions based on deep knowledge, analysis, data on those issues/questions, which necessarily leads to taking a side (e.g. vaccine efficacy, climate change, etc)