vanessabaird.bsky.social
@vanessabaird.bsky.social
Mom to three sets of twins (four kitties); political science professor at CU, Boulder.
Ask me about TILES, my teaching technique, some clean data sources, and why Dobbs is worse than we think.
https://vbaird.com
Ask me about TILES, my teaching technique, some clean data sources, and why Dobbs is worse than we think.
https://vbaird.com
Insane.
Tomorrow on The Rooster: A visit to Ohio State’s Right-Wing Free Speech Centers ends with a vicious assault from an … assistant professor?!?!
February 11, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Insane.
Here are two innocent-looking kitties. The one on the left destroyed an entire paper towel roll yesterday. The one on the right keeps coming up with ingenious ways to escape through the front door.
February 11, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Here are two innocent-looking kitties. The one on the left destroyed an entire paper towel roll yesterday. The one on the right keeps coming up with ingenious ways to escape through the front door.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 3, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
You mean to say that ICE cannot be trusted to tell the truth?
February 4, 2026 at 2:53 PM
You mean to say that ICE cannot be trusted to tell the truth?
One thing we need to be saying is that students are not easily swayed even if we were trying to sway them.
They don’t need your protection.
They don’t need your protection.
Holy crap.
I was going to call out the idea of creating a higher ed “overseer,” but that’s hardly the worst of it.
Absolutely destroying higher education.
I was going to call out the idea of creating a higher ed “overseer,” but that’s hardly the worst of it.
Absolutely destroying higher education.
A ‘Barrage of Bills’ Would Overhaul Higher Ed in Iowa—If They Actually Pass
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
February 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
One thing we need to be saying is that students are not easily swayed even if we were trying to sway them.
They don’t need your protection.
They don’t need your protection.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
Once again, for people in the back. I am happy to provide a paywall free link to my 2019 column in Nature, on the subject of tear gas www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Restrict use of riot-control chemicals | Nature
Tear gas and pepper spray put lives at risk. Examine their effects and regulate their deployment, urges Dan Kaszeta. Tear gas and pepper spray put lives at risk. Examine their effects and regulate their deployment, urges Dan Kaszeta.
www.nature.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Once again, for people in the back. I am happy to provide a paywall free link to my 2019 column in Nature, on the subject of tear gas www.nature.com/articles/d41...
You can't regulate guns to prevent mass shootings of schoolchildren.
But if anyone with a license to carry a gun wants to protect their neighbors with whistles and phones or exercise free speech for any progressive goal, they should be arrested.
But if anyone with a license to carry a gun wants to protect their neighbors with whistles and phones or exercise free speech for any progressive goal, they should be arrested.
The last 50 years of the NRA was just a giant con by the right?
Jeanine Pirro declared on Fox that if anyone brings "a gun into the District, you mark my words, you're going to jail. I don't care if you have a license in another district and I don't care if you're a law-abiding gun owner somewhere else."
February 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM
You can't regulate guns to prevent mass shootings of schoolchildren.
But if anyone with a license to carry a gun wants to protect their neighbors with whistles and phones or exercise free speech for any progressive goal, they should be arrested.
But if anyone with a license to carry a gun wants to protect their neighbors with whistles and phones or exercise free speech for any progressive goal, they should be arrested.
What could go wrong?
“In essence, Lotus is building an AI doctor that functions like a real medical practice, equipped with a license to operate in all 50 states, malpractice insurance, HIPAA-compliant systems, and full access to patient records.”
Lotus Health nabs $35M for AI doctor that sees patients for free | TechCrunch
This AI doctor is licensed in all 50 states, the startup says. The deal was led by CRV and Kleiner Perkins.
techcrunch.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:32 PM
What could go wrong?
What DHS is doing reminds me of a domestic abuser's playbook called "paper abuse."
If you can't harass people in person, then harass them with administrative authorities.
In this case, DHS administrative subpoenas.
If you can't harass people in person, then harass them with administrative authorities.
In this case, DHS administrative subpoenas.
They did a goo package on this, maybe 1A? Maybe I read it? Either way, yeah :(
“This is crazy,” she said. “How can our government be doing this?”
One helluva story about administrative subpoenas.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
One helluva story about administrative subpoenas.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
February 3, 2026 at 9:31 PM
What DHS is doing reminds me of a domestic abuser's playbook called "paper abuse."
If you can't harass people in person, then harass them with administrative authorities.
In this case, DHS administrative subpoenas.
If you can't harass people in person, then harass them with administrative authorities.
In this case, DHS administrative subpoenas.
Great courage, Noem, has in her decision to forcing ICE agents to wear bodycams.
She can now release bodycam footage of an agent murdering a protester in the back and then just say "all he was doing was buying her an ice cream," and that would be that.
She can now release bodycam footage of an agent murdering a protester in the back and then just say "all he was doing was buying her an ice cream," and that would be that.
February 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Great courage, Noem, has in her decision to forcing ICE agents to wear bodycams.
She can now release bodycam footage of an agent murdering a protester in the back and then just say "all he was doing was buying her an ice cream," and that would be that.
She can now release bodycam footage of an agent murdering a protester in the back and then just say "all he was doing was buying her an ice cream," and that would be that.
Ideological righteousness and a sense of collective and shared grievances makes people feel empathy for anyone in the ingroup, which then prevents any sense of shame.
the Bring Back Shame Popular Front is expanding
"Since prison for Epstein’s fellow abusers gets unlikelier over time, America’s deeper question is whether it can restore a culture of shame." - marvellous, marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social:
February 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Ideological righteousness and a sense of collective and shared grievances makes people feel empathy for anyone in the ingroup, which then prevents any sense of shame.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
Life is lifeing at me pretty hard this week, messing up my usual writing schedule. But I did manage to join @nytimes.com's John Guida to discuss Backlash Presidents and what it tells us about Trump's second term. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
Opinion | ‘It’s All Rooted in a Sense of Victimhood’: On Trump’s Backlash Presidency
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Life is lifeing at me pretty hard this week, messing up my usual writing schedule. But I did manage to join @nytimes.com's John Guida to discuss Backlash Presidents and what it tells us about Trump's second term. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
The people deserve to oppress / harm / exact cruelty on anyone they want.
It seems to me that there is one solution. We can allow those people to watch AI generated examples of cruelty, tell them it is real, and then the rest of us can get on with our lives.
It seems to me that there is one solution. We can allow those people to watch AI generated examples of cruelty, tell them it is real, and then the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Given how thoroughly the American people have rejected the cruel Republican vision of "immigration enforcement" -- with clear majorities in poll after poll insisting ICE has gone too far -- he's just lying lazily here by claiming the American people are "demanding" this
Mike Johnson: "You can't in any way lighten the enforcement requirement of federal immigration law. That's what the American people demand and deserve."
February 3, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The people deserve to oppress / harm / exact cruelty on anyone they want.
It seems to me that there is one solution. We can allow those people to watch AI generated examples of cruelty, tell them it is real, and then the rest of us can get on with our lives.
It seems to me that there is one solution. We can allow those people to watch AI generated examples of cruelty, tell them it is real, and then the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
It's black history month, and so our writer S. Baum decided to cover black trans people you may not hear about in your history classes.
Go read their latest piece, and don't forget to subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/black-tran...
Go read their latest piece, and don't forget to subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/black-tran...
Black Trans Trailblazers That You May Not Learn About in History Class
For Black History Month, we’re honoring these Black trans pioneers from across America.
www.erininthemorning.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:15 PM
It's black history month, and so our writer S. Baum decided to cover black trans people you may not hear about in your history classes.
Go read their latest piece, and don't forget to subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/black-tran...
Go read their latest piece, and don't forget to subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/black-tran...
Dumb of me. I see now the author is Gross. I thought the name was a commentary on how gross it is to be a Nazi in the humanities.
February 2, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Dumb of me. I see now the author is Gross. I thought the name was a commentary on how gross it is to be a Nazi in the humanities.
Ever since Millennials entered my classrooms, but even more so with Gen Z, I have been astounded by their hard work, creativity, and generosity.
February 2, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Ever since Millennials entered my classrooms, but even more so with Gen Z, I have been astounded by their hard work, creativity, and generosity.
I can tell that you name your files like I do. Things like "Horrifying_Account_blah_blah"
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I can tell that you name your files like I do. Things like "Horrifying_Account_blah_blah"
Crazy idea but what if NYPD made wage theft a priority over arresting people for petty crimes (e.g. selling single cigarettes), given that wage theft steals $50 billion from people in the U.S. per year (compared to 3-4 billion for all burglaries in the U.S. per year).
Incrementalists take it on the chin again. This is why they hate Mamdani. He's giving up the game that people in power HAVE POWER and don't solely exist to beg you for $5 every day. He's ruining the Democratic Party by showing voters that they have the power to do stuff instead of crouching in fear
Incredible contrast between this and Keir Starmer running a delivery driver over
February 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Crazy idea but what if NYPD made wage theft a priority over arresting people for petty crimes (e.g. selling single cigarettes), given that wage theft steals $50 billion from people in the U.S. per year (compared to 3-4 billion for all burglaries in the U.S. per year).
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics?
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
February 2, 2026 at 5:58 PM
NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics?
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up
Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter
Proud of @neguse.house.gov, my member of Congress, and former political science student, here at CU, Boulder.
February 2, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Proud of @neguse.house.gov, my member of Congress, and former political science student, here at CU, Boulder.
... but I thought money is free speech.
Michele Tafoya pledges that if elected to the US Senate she will investigate who is paying the protesters in Minnesota
February 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM
... but I thought money is free speech.
Reposted by vanessabaird.bsky.social
Anne Frank died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen
ICE now confirming that there is a measles outbreak at the Texas concentration camp where young Liam was held.
February 2, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Anne Frank died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen