Braedon McDonald
@braedon-mcdonald.bsky.social
PhD candidate in political science at UofG. Interested in all things related to law and politics, Canadian politics, and constitutionalism.
Got to meet SCC Justice Malcolm Rowe today on campus (UofG)! He discussed many themes from my Qualifying Exam that we often discuss in political science which was pretty cool. His main talk was about constitutional totalism and its consequences!
November 26, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Got to meet SCC Justice Malcolm Rowe today on campus (UofG)! He discussed many themes from my Qualifying Exam that we often discuss in political science which was pretty cool. His main talk was about constitutional totalism and its consequences!
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Yes, there are ethical and useful applications of AI: quick scans of large text files; protein folding, routine coding, all that.
But in current higher ed they are MASSIVELY outweighed by the harms: students using “Chat” to skip reading, writing, thinking. And admins are determined to deny that.
But in current higher ed they are MASSIVELY outweighed by the harms: students using “Chat” to skip reading, writing, thinking. And admins are determined to deny that.
November 23, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Yes, there are ethical and useful applications of AI: quick scans of large text files; protein folding, routine coding, all that.
But in current higher ed they are MASSIVELY outweighed by the harms: students using “Chat” to skip reading, writing, thinking. And admins are determined to deny that.
But in current higher ed they are MASSIVELY outweighed by the harms: students using “Chat” to skip reading, writing, thinking. And admins are determined to deny that.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
So now taxpayers will have to pay for traffic safety measures, rather than having law-breakers foot the bill through fines. How is that good for taxpayers? www.cp24.com/local/toront...
September 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
So now taxpayers will have to pay for traffic safety measures, rather than having law-breakers foot the bill through fines. How is that good for taxpayers? www.cp24.com/local/toront...
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
We are told that Charlie Kirk was "doing politics the right way" by going to universities to speak his mind.
We are told that universities do not allow people with Charlie Kirk's views to speak their minds.
It is odd to be told both those things.
We are told that universities do not allow people with Charlie Kirk's views to speak their minds.
It is odd to be told both those things.
September 13, 2025 at 1:20 AM
We are told that Charlie Kirk was "doing politics the right way" by going to universities to speak his mind.
We are told that universities do not allow people with Charlie Kirk's views to speak their minds.
It is odd to be told both those things.
We are told that universities do not allow people with Charlie Kirk's views to speak their minds.
It is odd to be told both those things.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
If you drill deep enough into almost anything, what you arrive at is "It's complicated and difficult to give a tidy and satisfying explanation."
That's the headsspace PhDs operate in, or at least the ones I've known. That's very much not the mindset of ChatGPT users.
That's the headsspace PhDs operate in, or at least the ones I've known. That's very much not the mindset of ChatGPT users.
August 10, 2025 at 12:02 AM
If you drill deep enough into almost anything, what you arrive at is "It's complicated and difficult to give a tidy and satisfying explanation."
That's the headsspace PhDs operate in, or at least the ones I've known. That's very much not the mindset of ChatGPT users.
That's the headsspace PhDs operate in, or at least the ones I've known. That's very much not the mindset of ChatGPT users.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Look around, the case for more, not less, liberal arts education remains stronger than ever.
If you were forced to bet on which university courses of study still will be relevant in 50 years, languages, literature, history, philosophy, and arts are all pretty good wagers.
They have an excellent track record over the past thousand years or so.
They have an excellent track record over the past thousand years or so.
Not the point of this fascinating article, but it remains darkly ironic to me that the Humanities have fallen backwards into being the safe financial bet of degrees
July 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Look around, the case for more, not less, liberal arts education remains stronger than ever.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
NEWS IN PHOTO: Carney instantly regrets winning election
May 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
NEWS IN PHOTO: Carney instantly regrets winning election
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre plans to use the notwithstanding clause to allow judges to impose consecutive life sentences for mass murderers—a practice the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled unconstitutional.
@allard.ubc.ca prof. Debra Parkes weighs in on @globalnews.ca: bit.ly/43VbkoL
@allard.ubc.ca prof. Debra Parkes weighs in on @globalnews.ca: bit.ly/43VbkoL
How consecutive life sentences and the notwithstanding clause work - National | Globalnews.ca
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's proposal has raised concerns about the rule of law in Canada, with some warning it could erode constitutional norms.
bit.ly
April 15, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre plans to use the notwithstanding clause to allow judges to impose consecutive life sentences for mass murderers—a practice the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled unconstitutional.
@allard.ubc.ca prof. Debra Parkes weighs in on @globalnews.ca: bit.ly/43VbkoL
@allard.ubc.ca prof. Debra Parkes weighs in on @globalnews.ca: bit.ly/43VbkoL
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Canadian academics: it's not worth the trip.
##EconSky
Our seminar speaker for tmr was coming from U Toronto. He was apparently detained (politely) for several hrs by US customs in CA. He was then cleared to travel to the US after his flight had left. Needless to say, no seminar tmr.
Our seminar speaker for tmr was coming from U Toronto. He was apparently detained (politely) for several hrs by US customs in CA. He was then cleared to travel to the US after his flight had left. Needless to say, no seminar tmr.
a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a snl logo
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a snl logo
media.tenor.com
April 4, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Canadian academics: it's not worth the trip.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
The perpetrator of the stabbing attack on my UWaterloo colleague and students in June 2023 was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for their calculated, hate-motivated crime. Good to see a serious penalty imposed. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ex-University of Waterloo, Ont., student sentenced to 11 years in prison for gender-studies class stabbings | CBC News
A former University of Waterloo, Ont., student who pleaded guilty to stabbing several people in a gender-studies class in 2023 was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison. The judge said Geovanny Villa...
www.cbc.ca
March 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The perpetrator of the stabbing attack on my UWaterloo colleague and students in June 2023 was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for their calculated, hate-motivated crime. Good to see a serious penalty imposed. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Trump is really just doing what he said he'd do all last year during the presidential campaign.
On a really important level, the problem is that a plurality of idiot Americans voted for the fascist demagogue spouting deranged economic ideas who'd already tried to overthrow their democracy once.
On a really important level, the problem is that a plurality of idiot Americans voted for the fascist demagogue spouting deranged economic ideas who'd already tried to overthrow their democracy once.
March 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Trump is really just doing what he said he'd do all last year during the presidential campaign.
On a really important level, the problem is that a plurality of idiot Americans voted for the fascist demagogue spouting deranged economic ideas who'd already tried to overthrow their democracy once.
On a really important level, the problem is that a plurality of idiot Americans voted for the fascist demagogue spouting deranged economic ideas who'd already tried to overthrow their democracy once.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
It’s like saying it must be fun to be a nuclear engineer, when said engineer is being lowered into a nuclear reactor in a last-ditch effort to replace some control rods to prevent a meltdown.
March 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
It’s like saying it must be fun to be a nuclear engineer, when said engineer is being lowered into a nuclear reactor in a last-ditch effort to replace some control rods to prevent a meltdown.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
This case involves challenge to Ontario legislature's use of Charter s33 #notwithstanding clause and Charter s3 'right to vote' which is not subject to s33. #onlaw #constitution #elections
Supreme Court Canada Charter 'right to vote' decision Fri M7. Constitutionality of limits imposed by Election Finances Act on 3rd party political advertising expenditures in during 12 month prewrit period before fixed date provincial #election. #onlaw #SCC decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/news...
March 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
This case involves challenge to Ontario legislature's use of Charter s33 #notwithstanding clause and Charter s3 'right to vote' which is not subject to s33. #onlaw #constitution #elections
So Trump’s plan was to pause military funding to Ukraine this whole time. He didn’t need to bully Zelenskiy before doing it. I guess that made him feel better about it…
March 4, 2025 at 3:24 AM
So Trump’s plan was to pause military funding to Ukraine this whole time. He didn’t need to bully Zelenskiy before doing it. I guess that made him feel better about it…
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Ditto. And - if necessary - I hope the feds are willing to step up even if certain premiers oppose stronger measures. There's very little the feds can't do unilaterally here.
The previously-announced staged counter-tariffs on US imports to Canada are to go in place tomorrow.
A sentence that caught my eye:
"We are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures."
I do hope they do something that grabs attention.
A sentence that caught my eye:
"We are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures."
I do hope they do something that grabs attention.
Trudeau's statement on the coming tariffs and counter-tariffs. #cdnpoli
March 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Ditto. And - if necessary - I hope the feds are willing to step up even if certain premiers oppose stronger measures. There's very little the feds can't do unilaterally here.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
You already have. Most of you are just too blinded by a lack of international media coverage to realize it. Your country is literally now the greatest threat to global democracy this generation has ever seen, and the remaining democracies of the world will react accordingly.
We're going to lose Canada and Mexico and Europe very, very soon if Trump and Vance aren't careful after this Zelensky disaster. I don't expect they will be careful. We're about to be on a geopolitical island in the middle of North America.
March 1, 2025 at 3:04 AM
You already have. Most of you are just too blinded by a lack of international media coverage to realize it. Your country is literally now the greatest threat to global democracy this generation has ever seen, and the remaining democracies of the world will react accordingly.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
That’s fucking brilliant.
February 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
That’s fucking brilliant.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
The best way to fight back against Musk: Don’t buy a Tesla. (And if you own one, sell it.)
The company was already in a precarious position before Musk launched his assault on democracy. A Tesla boycott would be devastating – and richly deserved.
Me, in Slate 🧵
The company was already in a precarious position before Musk launched his assault on democracy. A Tesla boycott would be devastating – and richly deserved.
Me, in Slate 🧵
Don’t Buy a Tesla. Sell Your Tesla. Refuse a Tesla at the Rental Counter. Yes—It Will Help.
Elon Musk’s car company is in a precarious spot.
slate.com
February 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The best way to fight back against Musk: Don’t buy a Tesla. (And if you own one, sell it.)
The company was already in a precarious position before Musk launched his assault on democracy. A Tesla boycott would be devastating – and richly deserved.
Me, in Slate 🧵
The company was already in a precarious position before Musk launched his assault on democracy. A Tesla boycott would be devastating – and richly deserved.
Me, in Slate 🧵
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
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@lturgeon.bsky.social eon.bsky.social
@cedunton.bsky.social
February 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
🙏🏼THANK YOU for choosing #CPSA_ACSP25!
🔴Registration is OPEN!
👉🏽Info shorturl.at/WCoaO
👉🏽Plan yr Trip shorturl.at/5AIbV
@isaluciecote.bsky.social @jonathanmalloy.bsky.social @twiets.bsky.social @arcattapan.bsky.social apan.bsky.social
@lturgeon.bsky.social eon.bsky.social
@cedunton.bsky.social
🔴Registration is OPEN!
👉🏽Info shorturl.at/WCoaO
👉🏽Plan yr Trip shorturl.at/5AIbV
@isaluciecote.bsky.social @jonathanmalloy.bsky.social @twiets.bsky.social @arcattapan.bsky.social apan.bsky.social
@lturgeon.bsky.social eon.bsky.social
@cedunton.bsky.social
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
My university is arguably the No. 1 postsecondary institution in Canada for producing future Tech leaders. Maybe it should try to do something to prevent the next generation of Tech Bros from being Elon Musk-style illiberal fascist monsters. I dunno. Maybe some mandatory Arts classes or something.
February 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My university is arguably the No. 1 postsecondary institution in Canada for producing future Tech leaders. Maybe it should try to do something to prevent the next generation of Tech Bros from being Elon Musk-style illiberal fascist monsters. I dunno. Maybe some mandatory Arts classes or something.
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Who wants to be the 51st version of this?
February 4, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Who wants to be the 51st version of this?
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
I'm really gonna need folks to pay attention to the anti-disability language that Donald Trump used today. You can read @metrauxjulia.bsky.social for details. It is as central to what he's doing as the misogyny and racism and homophobia and ....
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Trump responds to Washington plane crash with racist, ableist diatribe
The president used the tragedy, which killed 67, to deliver a bigoted and self-promoting tirade about DEI.
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I'm really gonna need folks to pay attention to the anti-disability language that Donald Trump used today. You can read @metrauxjulia.bsky.social for details. It is as central to what he's doing as the misogyny and racism and homophobia and ....
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Just like some of the recent uses of the notwithstanding clause has impacted the legitimacy of certain governments
#SCC 'upcoming notwithstanding clause cases. The Supreme Court Canada is entering a snake pit that could impact its legitimacy if it finds new substantive restrictions on the Charter S33 notwithstanding clause.' Commentary from @markpmancini.bsky.social and others. thehub.ca/2025/01/27/p...
January 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Just like some of the recent uses of the notwithstanding clause has impacted the legitimacy of certain governments
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Ever get the feeling that folks are willing to tolerate democratic backsliding as long as they get what they want in terms of policy outcomes? @profannikawerner.bsky.social and @fsnagovsky.bsky.social put this to the test. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Do voters support democracy at all costs? Input and output legitimacy in Australia and the United Kingdom
Are voters willing to sacrifice democracy if they get everything else they want from their political leaders? Recent trends towards illiberalism in established democracies have called into question...
www.tandfonline.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Ever get the feeling that folks are willing to tolerate democratic backsliding as long as they get what they want in terms of policy outcomes? @profannikawerner.bsky.social and @fsnagovsky.bsky.social put this to the test. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Braedon McDonald
Poilievre knows that temporary residents already get deported for violent crime. The point is to associate visiting migrants with violence. Suggest a "woke" liberal plot is to blame. And create a climate of suspicion.
Remember: Trump won an election with this playbook.
Remember: Trump won an election with this playbook.
Poilievre uses the Holocaust Memorial event in Auschwitz to criticize the liberal government and to politic against "woke ideology."
Calls for deportations for temp residents who commit violent hate crimes (already the law).
globalnews.ca/video/109795...
Calls for deportations for temp residents who commit violent hate crimes (already the law).
globalnews.ca/video/109795...
Poilievre says Canada should ‘deport’ any temporary resident committing violence or hate crimes | Watch News Videos Online
Watch Poilievre says Canada should ‘deport’ any temporary resident committing violence or hate crimes Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
globalnews.ca
January 28, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Poilievre knows that temporary residents already get deported for violent crime. The point is to associate visiting migrants with violence. Suggest a "woke" liberal plot is to blame. And create a climate of suspicion.
Remember: Trump won an election with this playbook.
Remember: Trump won an election with this playbook.