Thomas Masterson
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thomasmasterson.bsky.social
Thomas Masterson
@thomasmasterson.bsky.social
270 followers 310 following 200 posts

Senior Scholar and Director of Graduate Programs at Levy Economics Institute of Bard College

Videos
Economics 23%
Political science 16%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Mark D. White, Thomas Masterson

kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 6h
This is why it’s so important to trace things back to the beginning whenever possible.

I believe @rauchway.bsky.social calls these “historical urban legends”
amabel.bsky.social Amabel Holland @amabel.bsky.social · Jul 31
looking up the source of quotes, whether for a book or a video script, is great for figuring out when a quote everyone "knows" and has repeated for ages is actually just weird bullshit someone else made up

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

philplait.bsky.social
Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d
Marsy Christmas!

badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/a-red-plan...
A Red Planet Holiday
A mind-blowing image of Mars taken from above the planet itself
badastronomy.beehiiv.com

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Joe R. Feagin, Steve Peers , and 8 more

barackobama.bsky.social
Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 1d
Merry Christmas! Michelle and I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with light and joy.

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social
Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 2d
Leadership isn't a gala with billionaires at Mar-a-Lago; it’s a surprise visit to a children’s hospital. Remember which one actually served the people.

Reposted by Alan Richardson, Tom Stoppard, Thomas Masterson

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 2d
thomas chatterton williams, whose main literary output is three memoirs of declining quality, and who has written the same essay ad nauseam for 10 years, nonetheless has a sinecure at the atlantic, a teaching job at an elite college, and a nice handful of prestigious fellowships

thomasmasterson.bsky.social
Thomas Masterson @thomasmasterson.bsky.social · 2d
If you missed the talk earlier this month, video is now up on our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GMU...

Reposted by Alan Richardson, Ann Bartow, Thomas Masterson

nkalamb.bsky.social
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 2d
Anti-trans demagogue and fifth place swimmer Riley Gaines earned $470,000+ last year from a conservative non-profit.

Notably, $420k was incentive-based.

A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.

I wonder what the per-post rate is?
According to the 2024 return, Gaines received just $54,158 in base pay to serve as director of the 501(c)(3) organization’s “Riley Gaines Center,” with a staggering $420,155 (89%) classified as bonus or incentive compensation. By comparison, Davis, as the nonprofit’s chief development officer, received a bonus of a mere $25,131 during the same cycle. Gaines’ incentive compensation was roughly four times larger than any bonus previously disclosed by the Leadership Institute, which no longer appears to have any affiliation with her.

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

levyecon.bsky.social
Levy Institute @levyecon.bsky.social · 3d
Twenty years ago, India launched the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and became an inspiration for the world.

Now, the act is set to be repealed. Read the new piece by Jean Dreze to learn more.

www.levyinstitute.org/blog/employm...
Employment Guarantee on the Block – Levy Economics Institute of Bard College
This article has been cross-posted from its original appearance in the Indian Express (published December 20, 2025). The VB-G RAM G Bill is all set to sink India’s employment guarantee in the guise of...
www.levyinstitute.org

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

famousartthief.bsky.social
not an art thief @famousartthief.bsky.social · 3d
said it for ten years but donald trump is just a make a wish kid that wouldn’t ever fuck off and die
donald trump wants cool ships

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

velshi.com
Ali Velshi @velshi.com · 5d
Please join me @velshimsnow.bsky.social 10a-1p w/

@darrickhamilton.bsky.social
@normornstein.bsky.social
@robertgarcia.bsky.social
@robert-faturechi.bsky.social
@stevebenen.com

#Velshi
2/2

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Axel Bruns, Ken Caldeira , and 11 more

meidastouch.com
MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 5d
🚨 The DOJ appears to have redacted Donald Trump’s name from the allegations made in this exhibit in the Epstein files.

Trump’s name was in the original release. Now, it’s blacked out.

See for yourself.

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

whipkclark.bsky.social
Katherine Clark @whipkclark.bsky.social · 7d
The American people need solutions, not another speech.

Reposted by Olivier De Schutter, Thomas Masterson, Pavlina R. Tcherneva

levyecon.bsky.social
Levy Institute @levyecon.bsky.social · 8d
"MGNREGA has captured the world’s attention with its demonstrated achievements and innovative design. To dismantle it now would be a historic error."

We have drafted a letter calling for the preservation of India's NREGA law.

Read the letter now and add your name.

levyinstitute.org?p=16777

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 8d
In a spirited address to the nation, President Trump announced his plans to increase the moon by 800% and called for the execution of the California Raisins.

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social
The Briefing with Jen Psaki @briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social · 8d
"A bad, fast-talking infomercial." Jen Psaki reacts to Donald Trump's address to the nation, "It was extremely loose on facts and he basically tried to shout his alleged accomplishments at the American people as if that was going to convince them that they were all true."

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

annaleen.bsky.social
Annalee Newitz @annaleen.bsky.social · 8d
Do not miss this incredible book about magic, intergenerational trauma, and 18th century queer literary gossip
charliejane.bsky.social Charlie Jane "Lessons in Magic and Disaster" Anders 🏳️‍⚧ @charliejane.bsky.social · 8d
My novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster is just $2.99 in all e-book formats today. (Kindle, Kobo, Nook,etc)

This is the book of my heart. It's a queer mother-daughter story about healing and forgiveness. It's got 18th century lit, riot grrls, and filthy weird magic.

us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Lessons in Magic and Disaster
In the vein of Alice Hoffman and Charlie Jane Anders's own All the Birds in the Sky comes a novel full of love, disaster, and magic. A young witch teaches he...
us.macmillan.com

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

ryanlcooper.com
ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 8d
excellent vid from @nerd4cities.bsky.social youtu.be/VlsDkN9tHHk?...
The Mystery of America's 15 Million Empty Houses
YouTube video by Ray Delahanty | CityNerd
youtu.be

Reposted by Richard E. Lenski, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan , and 16 more

craigcalcaterra.bsky.social
Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 8d
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.

Holy. Shit.

www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Were there moments that you missed? Anything that happened that’s on the cutting room floor? I don’t think there’s anything I missed that I wish I’d gotten. I’ll give you a little anecdote: Stephen Miller was perhaps the most concerned about the portrait session. He asked me, “Should I smile or not smile?” and I said, “How would you want to be portrayed?” We agreed that we would do a bit of both. And then when we were finished, he comes up to me to shake my hand and say goodbye. And he says to me, “You know, you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to people.” And I looked at him and I said, “You know, you do, too.”

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

phoenixwomanmn.bsky.social
PhoenixWomanMN @phoenixwomanmn.bsky.social · 8d
Evanston isn't exactly Fallujah. It is, however, a city that is both prosperous and diverse, so Bovino hates it.

Reposted by Thomas Masterson, Annalee Newitz

charliejane.bsky.social
Charlie Jane "Lessons in Magic and Disaster" Anders 🏳️‍⚧ @charliejane.bsky.social · 8d
My novel Lessons in Magic and Disaster is just $2.99 in all e-book formats today. (Kindle, Kobo, Nook,etc)

This is the book of my heart. It's a queer mother-daughter story about healing and forgiveness. It's got 18th century lit, riot grrls, and filthy weird magic.

us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Lessons in Magic and Disaster
In the vein of Alice Hoffman and Charlie Jane Anders's own All the Birds in the Sky comes a novel full of love, disaster, and magic. A young witch teaches he...
us.macmillan.com

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

contrariannews.org
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 8d
The Trump administration’s endgame is clear: institute a Christian white nationalist agenda.

@shalisemyoung.bsky.social
The ‘Second Nadir,’ Indeed: The Year in Race
Trump, his Cabinet, and his advisers are dismantling civil rights and erasing evidence of Black history and achievement.
contrarian.substack.com

Reposted by Juan Cole, Julia Lynch, Brian Keegan , and 3 more

propublicaguild.org
ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 9d
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
Headline: ProPublica management wants 100% discretion over when and how to use AI Supplementary text: The organization rejected our proposal that ensures staff will not be replaced by AI and requires labeling AI-generated content

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

nytpitchbot.bsky.social
NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 9d
Donald Trump is commemorating Rob Reiner’s death the right way.

by Ezra Klein

Reposted by Will Jennings, Efrén O. Pérez, Juan Cole , and 13 more

kylegriffin1.bsky.social
Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 9d
BREAKING on MS NOW:

Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:

"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."

thomasmasterson.bsky.social
Thomas Masterson @thomasmasterson.bsky.social · 9d
Join us!
levyecon.bsky.social Levy Institute @levyecon.bsky.social · 9d
The Early App deadline for Levy Grad Programs is approaching on January 15th!

Join our Application Workshop and Info Session on Monday January 12th at 12pm EST. We'll be going through the application checklist and answering any last minute questions.

connect.bard.edu/register/Lev...

Reposted by Thomas Masterson, Pavlina R. Tcherneva

levyecon.bsky.social
Levy Institute @levyecon.bsky.social · 9d
"For decades, political parties have treated the working family as a slogan rather than the foundation of a healthy society."

Now published: Read @ptcherneva.bsky.social's keynote address from the CIRIEC and Bordeaux GSEF 2025 conferences.

Video available.

www.levyinstitute.org/publications...

Reposted by Thomas Masterson

levyecon.bsky.social
Levy Institute @levyecon.bsky.social · 9d
The Early App deadline for Levy Grad Programs is approaching on January 15th!

Join our Application Workshop and Info Session on Monday January 12th at 12pm EST. We'll be going through the application checklist and answering any last minute questions.

connect.bard.edu/register/Lev...

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Elizabeth Saunders, John McLaren , and 7 more

propublica.org
ProPublica @propublica.org · 9d
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.

Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan , and 8 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10d
Vance: "Why have rents gone down for 4 consecutive months? Because we're starting to get those illegal aliens out of the USA. Those criminals, those gang members, those people that are taking homes that ought by right go the people in this room. It's simple economics."

thomasmasterson.bsky.social
Thomas Masterson @thomasmasterson.bsky.social · 10d
To be fair they don't care about debt except for its usefulness as a club to wield to prevent future left governments from doing anything good