tim frye
@timfrye.bsky.social
Political Science at Columbia, Editor Post-Soviet Affairs, Autocracy, democracy, and the NBA. Most recently, Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia and Workplace Politics: How Politicians and Employers Subvert Elections.
If kidnapping a country’s leader doesn’t count as an act of war, then what does?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why wasn't congressional authorization necessary?
RUBIO: It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation.
RUBIO: It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation.
January 4, 2026 at 7:39 PM
If kidnapping a country’s leader doesn’t count as an act of war, then what does?
I've been down on the WP for a while now and this Editorial Board piece is exactly why. The argument is shallower than a kiddie pool. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Justice in Venezuela
The next challenge is setting the country up for long-term success.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM
I've been down on the WP for a while now and this Editorial Board piece is exactly why. The argument is shallower than a kiddie pool. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by tim frye
Reposted by tim frye
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
December 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
Reposted by tim frye
Texas Universities are now like police departments who would prefer to pay out the inevitable lawsuits rather than stop breaking the law
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Texas Universities are now like police departments who would prefer to pay out the inevitable lawsuits rather than stop breaking the law
Reposted by tim frye
You’d really be forgiven if you had a hard time conceiving of a success on this scale. “So I’ve got this idea for an environmental and public health project, we’re gonna reduce pollution by a fifth. No no it doesn’t cost anything. Actually it’s gonna net half a billion dollars.” What!
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
You’d really be forgiven if you had a hard time conceiving of a success on this scale. “So I’ve got this idea for an environmental and public health project, we’re gonna reduce pollution by a fifth. No no it doesn’t cost anything. Actually it’s gonna net half a billion dollars.” What!
Reposted by tim frye
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Reposted by tim frye
Did you know that the US hasn’t had an ambassador in Moscow in 6 months?
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
December 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Did you know that the US hasn’t had an ambassador in Moscow in 6 months?
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
Reposted by tim frye
edition.cnn.com/2022/04/12/u...
The Kremlin Kids, Russian Hypocrisy is well known and won’t change.
The West is bad, but not that bad………….’
Peskov – reportedly made $173,000 in 2020
The Kremlin Kids, Russian Hypocrisy is well known and won’t change.
The West is bad, but not that bad………….’
Peskov – reportedly made $173,000 in 2020
Kremlin-connected children grew up in the very countries whose societies their parents claim to reject | CNN
Russian leaders denounce the West while their children live affluent lifestyles abroad. Meet the kids of the Kremlin.
edition.cnn.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
edition.cnn.com/2022/04/12/u...
The Kremlin Kids, Russian Hypocrisy is well known and won’t change.
The West is bad, but not that bad………….’
Peskov – reportedly made $173,000 in 2020
The Kremlin Kids, Russian Hypocrisy is well known and won’t change.
The West is bad, but not that bad………….’
Peskov – reportedly made $173,000 in 2020
Such a shortsighted decision at a moment of international turbulence. These centers are needed now more than ever.
UNC-Chapel Hill is closing all six of its area studies centers to save $7 million dollars.
UNC's football coach, Bill Belichick, makes $10 million a year.
In total, the football team now has a $40 million budget.
Make this make sense.
UNC's football coach, Bill Belichick, makes $10 million a year.
In total, the football team now has a $40 million budget.
Make this make sense.
UNC cuts all six area studies research centers, effective 2026
As part of the University's plan to make $70 million in budget cuts across the institution, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Nate Knuffman projected that cutting 14 centers and institutes in...
dailytarheel.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Such a shortsighted decision at a moment of international turbulence. These centers are needed now more than ever.
Reposted by tim frye
College costs are soaring! www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
College costs are soaring! www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...
Come work with us. A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Ukrainian Studies and another for an open position at the Harriman Institute. Deadline January 5. harriman.columbia.edu/postdoctoral...
Postdoctoral Scholars
Postdoctoral Scholars
harriman.columbia.edu
December 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Come work with us. A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Ukrainian Studies and another for an open position at the Harriman Institute. Deadline January 5. harriman.columbia.edu/postdoctoral...
Hard agree with Kotkin here www.foreignaffairs.com/china/weakne... and if you want more detail on the Russia case, See my book, Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia www.amazon.com/Weak-Strongm...
The Weakness of the Strongmen
Not long ago in the sweep of history, countries that had once been buried behind the Iron Curtain, and even some Soviet republics, were transformed into members of the solidly democratic club. Some of...
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Hard agree with Kotkin here www.foreignaffairs.com/china/weakne... and if you want more detail on the Russia case, See my book, Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia www.amazon.com/Weak-Strongm...
Reposted by tim frye
Longer thread on relevant research: bsky.app/profile/prof...
December 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Longer thread on relevant research: bsky.app/profile/prof...
Reposted by tim frye
Not that you really need it in this case, but research says no.
Political appointee diplomats underperform career diplomats onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Political appointee diplomats underperform career diplomats onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
December 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Not that you really need it in this case, but research says no.
Political appointee diplomats underperform career diplomats onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Political appointee diplomats underperform career diplomats onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
A ray of hope on an otherwise bleak weekend.
🇭🇺Massive demonstrations in Budapest, Hungary against the Viktor Orbán’s regime.
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
December 15, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A ray of hope on an otherwise bleak weekend.
We recently published a special issue societal resilience in Ukraine with a focus on local and regional governance. Take a look. www.tandfonline.com/toc/rpsa20/4...
Post-Soviet Affairs
The local and regional dimension of Ukraine’s resilience during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Volume 41, Issue 5 of Post-Soviet Affairs
www.tandfonline.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
We recently published a special issue societal resilience in Ukraine with a focus on local and regional governance. Take a look. www.tandfonline.com/toc/rpsa20/4...
The world is a less interesting place with the passing of Kimuli Kasara. She was brilliant, funny, and caring. And was loved by many. She was a great friend and confidante. We will all miss her terribly. Rest in peace. fas.columbia.edu/news/memoria...
In Memoriam: Professor Kimuli Kasara | Arts & Sciences
fas.columbia.edu
December 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The world is a less interesting place with the passing of Kimuli Kasara. She was brilliant, funny, and caring. And was loved by many. She was a great friend and confidante. We will all miss her terribly. Rest in peace. fas.columbia.edu/news/memoria...
Reposted by tim frye
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
Breaking News: The last pending criminal prosecution against President Trump was dismissed by a judge in Georgia, effectively ending efforts to hold Trump criminally responsible for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. trib.al/EnJu57H
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
yes it is clever.
Clever study assesses “whether same person is treated differently when their race is perceived differently.” Finds “same driver is likelier to be searched or arrested by police when they are perceived as Hispanic than when they are perceived as white.” www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Testing for racial bias using inconsistent perceptions of race
A proposed test for racial bias assesses whether the same person is treated differently when their race is perceived differently.
www.science.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
yes it is clever.
Man, 2025 has been rough.
Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter of Alright Guy, dies aged 59
Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter of Alright Guy, dies aged 59
Influential musician who created Americana hits had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia
Todd Snider, the influential alt-country singer-songwriter who created Americana hits such as Alright Guy, has died at 59.
His passing was shared through announcements on his official social media accounts. Although no cause of death was provided, his family shared on Friday that he had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Man, 2025 has been rough.
Looking forward to this event today. Better in person but a recording will also be made available. sofheyman.org/events/celeb...
Celebrating Recent Work by Timothy Frye | Event
Workplace Politics: How Politicians and Employers Subvert Elections by Timothy Frye, Ora John Reuter, and David Szakonyi In many countries, politicians rely…
sofheyman.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Looking forward to this event today. Better in person but a recording will also be made available. sofheyman.org/events/celeb...
Proud to serve on the Advisory Council of the new Kennan Institute which launched yesterday. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
November 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Proud to serve on the Advisory Council of the new Kennan Institute which launched yesterday. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Look forward to hosting this event tomorrow with Alexis Lerner at the Harriman Institute. Register today to attend. harriman.columbia.edu/event/book-t...
Book Talk. "Post-Soviet Graffiti"
Please join the Harriman Institute for a book talk by Alexis Lerner. Moderated by Timothy Frye.
harriman.columbia.edu
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Look forward to hosting this event tomorrow with Alexis Lerner at the Harriman Institute. Register today to attend. harriman.columbia.edu/event/book-t...
Looking forward to discussing our new book with John Huber, Jessica Pisano @awhf.bsky.social @pagefortna.bsky.social on Friday, Nov. 14th at 12:15. The event is both in person and on zoom. Hope you can make it. harriman.columbia.edu/event/celebr...
Celebrating Recent Work by Timothy Frye
Please join the Harriman Institute, the Institute for Social and Economic Research, The Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities, and the Department of Political Science for a celebrati...
harriman.columbia.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Looking forward to discussing our new book with John Huber, Jessica Pisano @awhf.bsky.social @pagefortna.bsky.social on Friday, Nov. 14th at 12:15. The event is both in person and on zoom. Hope you can make it. harriman.columbia.edu/event/celebr...