Ivan D. Velasquez
@1v4nd4r10.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Economics at UMN Morris.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Monday, 12/1: I'll be on @kqedforum.bsky.social to discuss tech's Antichrist-obsessed fascism cult and Silicon Valley's pitch deck for replacing democracy with corporate dictatorship.
10 a.m. pacific—and you can listen live and call in with questions.
www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
10 a.m. pacific—and you can listen live and call in with questions.
www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
‘Nerd Reich’ Author Gil Duran on the Tech Authoritarian Movement | KQED
Airdate: Monday, December 1 at 10 AM Journalist Gil Duran’s newsletter “The Nerd Reich” documents the latest developments in anti-democracy extremism within Silicon Valley. These extreme views include...
www.kqed.org
December 1, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Monday, 12/1: I'll be on @kqedforum.bsky.social to discuss tech's Antichrist-obsessed fascism cult and Silicon Valley's pitch deck for replacing democracy with corporate dictatorship.
10 a.m. pacific—and you can listen live and call in with questions.
www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
10 a.m. pacific—and you can listen live and call in with questions.
www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
The DC shooter was a member of a CIA-trained and -supported unit that Human Rights Watch said was a "death squad"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM
The DC shooter was a member of a CIA-trained and -supported unit that Human Rights Watch said was a "death squad"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Trump's speech about the shooting in DC veered into him attacking the Somali community in Minnesota, which of course had nothing to do with the shooting. Gives away his bigoted game.
November 27, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Trump's speech about the shooting in DC veered into him attacking the Somali community in Minnesota, which of course had nothing to do with the shooting. Gives away his bigoted game.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Tyson is closing a Nebraska plant that employs 3,200 workers in order to “right-size” its business.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Tyson is closing a Nebraska plant that employs 3,200 workers in order to “right-size” its business.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
My piece on the ongoing Argentinian crisis prospect.org/2025/11/24/a...
Make Argentina Crash Again: On Milei’s Neoliberal Experiment - The American Prospect
The short-term political boost to Argentine president Javier Milei's fortunes is unlikely to continue, as the familiar cycle of crisis and default looms.
prospect.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
My piece on the ongoing Argentinian crisis prospect.org/2025/11/24/a...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
We’re proud to introduce a new marketing campaign, “More is Morris,” highlighting why students choose UMN Morris. Based on in-depth research, the brand refresh emphasizes the magic and sense of place that makes Morris so unique.
z.umn.edu/MoreIsMorris
#UMNMorris #UMNMorrisProud #UMNProud
z.umn.edu/MoreIsMorris
#UMNMorris #UMNMorrisProud #UMNProud
October 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
We’re proud to introduce a new marketing campaign, “More is Morris,” highlighting why students choose UMN Morris. Based on in-depth research, the brand refresh emphasizes the magic and sense of place that makes Morris so unique.
z.umn.edu/MoreIsMorris
#UMNMorris #UMNMorrisProud #UMNProud
z.umn.edu/MoreIsMorris
#UMNMorris #UMNMorrisProud #UMNProud
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Referring to the roughly 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists who attended the COP30 talks in Brazil, climate activist Harjeet Singh says "it's like inviting arsonists to tell us how to put out the fire."
“Inviting the Arsonists”: Climate Activist Slams Fossil Fuel Lobbyists at U.N. Talks
Nations are struggling to reach a final text agreement at the COP30 U.N. climate summit in Belém, Brazil. Decisions are made by consensus at COPs, requiring consent among 192 countries, and the bigges...
www.democracynow.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Referring to the roughly 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists who attended the COP30 talks in Brazil, climate activist Harjeet Singh says "it's like inviting arsonists to tell us how to put out the fire."
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
No to the war on Venezuela!
November 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
No to the war on Venezuela!
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
It says something that the majority of the people making less than 50k went for Trump, given this
November 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It says something that the majority of the people making less than 50k went for Trump, given this
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
In short: The COP30 was a failure once again.
COP30 summit ends without a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels
COP30 summit ends without a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels
United Nations climate talks in Brazil have reached a subdued agreement to deliver more money to countries hit hardest by climate change to help them adapt to the wrath of extreme weather.
www.lemonde.fr
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
In short: The COP30 was a failure once again.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
If tech billionaires get to write history, Elon Musk will be better than Jesus Christ, smarter than Albert Einstein, and fitter than LeBron James.
Beware the twin terrors of bad AI—Artificial Information and Artificial Ideology.
gizmodo.com/grok-says-el...
Beware the twin terrors of bad AI—Artificial Information and Artificial Ideology.
gizmodo.com/grok-says-el...
Grok Says Elon Musk Is Smarter Than Einstein and More Fit Than LeBron James
While Musk wants you to trust Grok to organize all of human civilization's knowledge, the bot's fealty to Dear Leader is out of control.
gizmodo.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 PM
If tech billionaires get to write history, Elon Musk will be better than Jesus Christ, smarter than Albert Einstein, and fitter than LeBron James.
Beware the twin terrors of bad AI—Artificial Information and Artificial Ideology.
gizmodo.com/grok-says-el...
Beware the twin terrors of bad AI—Artificial Information and Artificial Ideology.
gizmodo.com/grok-says-el...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Trump promoting a death threat should not be dismissed as just one more of his excesses.
When a wannabe autocrat aligns himself with a call to execute political foes, it’s not just another Trump social media post. It’s another warning.
When a wannabe autocrat aligns himself with a call to execute political foes, it’s not just another Trump social media post. It’s another warning.
Trump endorses hanging Democratic members of Congress
"Their words cannot be allowed to stand."
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Trump promoting a death threat should not be dismissed as just one more of his excesses.
When a wannabe autocrat aligns himself with a call to execute political foes, it’s not just another Trump social media post. It’s another warning.
When a wannabe autocrat aligns himself with a call to execute political foes, it’s not just another Trump social media post. It’s another warning.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
private equity firms extract, they do not 'invest'
who do they extract from? workers, patients, children in childcare centers they buy..
disgusted by this and in no way surprised
who do they extract from? workers, patients, children in childcare centers they buy..
disgusted by this and in no way surprised
Just weeks before Thanksgiving, Walgreens' new private equity owners Sycamore Partners cut paid holidays for hundreds of thousands of its lowest-paid workers. pestakeholder.org/news/walgree...
Walgreens’ new PE owners cut worker holidays ahead of Thanksgiving
Move mirrors cost-cutting pattern seen across Sycamore’s retail portfolio as workers brace for possible further fallout
pestakeholder.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
private equity firms extract, they do not 'invest'
who do they extract from? workers, patients, children in childcare centers they buy..
disgusted by this and in no way surprised
who do they extract from? workers, patients, children in childcare centers they buy..
disgusted by this and in no way surprised
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Its important to understand that the theoretical justification for airline deregulation was that the lack of price competition was leading to an "overproduction" of amenities to try to gain market share. So flying being a miserable experience is supposed to be the "correct" amount of amenities.
A perfect example of capitalist incentives leading to worse outcomes is checked baggage on planes.
To squeeze more money out of passengers, airlines now charge exorbitant fees for checked bags – so everyone brings carry-on rollers instead, so there’s never enough room in the overhead bins.
To squeeze more money out of passengers, airlines now charge exorbitant fees for checked bags – so everyone brings carry-on rollers instead, so there’s never enough room in the overhead bins.
November 16, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Its important to understand that the theoretical justification for airline deregulation was that the lack of price competition was leading to an "overproduction" of amenities to try to gain market share. So flying being a miserable experience is supposed to be the "correct" amount of amenities.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Perennial favorite
November 16, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Perennial favorite
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Besides the other ways this is silly, I’m always struck by the language of “cross-subsidization” in these contexts. The assumption is that profits are fixed (or nonexistent) so the only way for one customer to pay less is for another customer to pay more.
I’m the normie whisperer who believes that people who get belligerently drunk at sports games are getting drunk off stadium beer
November 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Besides the other ways this is silly, I’m always struck by the language of “cross-subsidization” in these contexts. The assumption is that profits are fixed (or nonexistent) so the only way for one customer to pay less is for another customer to pay more.
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
Has anyone asked Larry Summers about this email he sent to Epstein attaching an article revealing that a presidential advance team member had slept with a prostitute in Cartagena?
Summers: "I fear she should have pulled out last week."
Epstein: "i have some ideas. call when you have a moment."
Summers: "I fear she should have pulled out last week."
Epstein: "i have some ideas. call when you have a moment."
November 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Has anyone asked Larry Summers about this email he sent to Epstein attaching an article revealing that a presidential advance team member had slept with a prostitute in Cartagena?
Summers: "I fear she should have pulled out last week."
Epstein: "i have some ideas. call when you have a moment."
Summers: "I fear she should have pulled out last week."
Epstein: "i have some ideas. call when you have a moment."
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
@jeffhauser.bsky.social says it best: "Only insane people would seek out the counsel of a man who relies on Jeffrey Epstein for dating advice and Milton Friedman for economic inspiration.”
Summers story updates:
1-Official Project 2029 effort says they have nothing to do with Summers
2-But they are taking ideas from many groups, including CAP. Emails show CAP internally describing their effort as "Project 2029"
3-CAP's Neera Tanden was on the Project 2029 advisory board but left
1-Official Project 2029 effort says they have nothing to do with Summers
2-But they are taking ideas from many groups, including CAP. Emails show CAP internally describing their effort as "Project 2029"
3-CAP's Neera Tanden was on the Project 2029 advisory board but left
Epstein Confidant Larry Summers Guiding CAP’s ‘Project 2029’ - The American Prospect
Summers was overseeing the economic policy plank of the Center for American Progress’s effort. Emails released this week show him in regular contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
prospect.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:12 PM
@jeffhauser.bsky.social says it best: "Only insane people would seek out the counsel of a man who relies on Jeffrey Epstein for dating advice and Milton Friedman for economic inspiration.”
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
When @billgates.bsky.social yelled at me about Climate Change, and climate hushing elsewhere in news and politics. #climate @theframelab.bsky.social @gilduran.com @nytimesoped.bsky.social @joeroganhq.bsky.social @nytopinion.nytimes.com
When Bill Gates Yelled At Me About Climate Change
David Fenton recalls Bill Gates yelling at him in 2010 about climate change. 15 years later, Gates still gets it wrong and he's not alone.
www.theframelab.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
When @billgates.bsky.social yelled at me about Climate Change, and climate hushing elsewhere in news and politics. #climate @theframelab.bsky.social @gilduran.com @nytimesoped.bsky.social @joeroganhq.bsky.social @nytopinion.nytimes.com
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
I wonder how many Venezuelans Trump will kill to distract from the Epstein files www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Trump weighs Venezuela strikes as U.S. forces prepare for attack order
High-level discussions, underway for days, have explored a variety of potential military options, people familiar with the matter said.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I wonder how many Venezuelans Trump will kill to distract from the Epstein files www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
I found my new epitaph:
"I was accused more than once by some Board members and the Governor’s office of being stubborn. Perhaps I am. But stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled."
"I was accused more than once by some Board members and the Governor’s office of being stubborn. Perhaps I am. But stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled."
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I found my new epitaph:
"I was accused more than once by some Board members and the Governor’s office of being stubborn. Perhaps I am. But stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled."
"I was accused more than once by some Board members and the Governor’s office of being stubborn. Perhaps I am. But stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled."
Reposted by Ivan D. Velasquez
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org