David O’Brien
@davidobrien.bsky.social
Higher education policy specialist and advocate. I work for California Community Colleges but this is my personal account.
Reposted by David O’Brien
The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.
newrepublic.com/article/2013...
newrepublic.com/article/2013...
Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down
How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education
newrepublic.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.
newrepublic.com/article/2013...
newrepublic.com/article/2013...
Reposted by David O’Brien
twice a year the entire U.S. press becomes a marketing extension of a single billionaire-owned retailer, and nobody in any position of editorial power thinks it's weird or gross
October 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
twice a year the entire U.S. press becomes a marketing extension of a single billionaire-owned retailer, and nobody in any position of editorial power thinks it's weird or gross
Reposted by David O’Brien
'out of the three mass shootings today'
Iraq War veteran Thomas Sanford has been identified as the gunman who attacked Grand Blanc Mormon church, killing 2 people and setting it ablaze. Out of the three mass shootings today, two of them have been carried out by Iraq war veterans.
September 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
'out of the three mass shootings today'
Smart city attorneys everywhere should be drawing up “_____ v. Trump” templates in preparation for what we can only assume will be more military invasions of American cities.
Portland v Trump—
September 28, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Smart city attorneys everywhere should be drawing up “_____ v. Trump” templates in preparation for what we can only assume will be more military invasions of American cities.
Not that she has any reason to want to subject herself to this, but Leah Remini has a strong moral voice, a compelling personal story, and is widely known, including in red states, from her network TV career - she’d make a great political candidate one day.
I was honored to give the keynote speech at the Democracy in Saudi Arabia Summit.
The Saudi Crown Prince is trying to whitewash his regime’s tyranny by weaponizing pop culture against his citizens.
We must not launder MBS’ regime and that includes entertainers.
My Full Remarks: bit.ly/4gRoqrK
The Saudi Crown Prince is trying to whitewash his regime’s tyranny by weaponizing pop culture against his citizens.
We must not launder MBS’ regime and that includes entertainers.
My Full Remarks: bit.ly/4gRoqrK
September 28, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Not that she has any reason to want to subject herself to this, but Leah Remini has a strong moral voice, a compelling personal story, and is widely known, including in red states, from her network TV career - she’d make a great political candidate one day.
Very happy for Moldovans standing up against corrupt Russian imperialism today.
The pro-EU Party of Action & Solidarity has crushed the pro-Russia Patriotic Electoral Bloc in the Moldovan election.
It won 51 seats - an outright majority.
Moldova is now on a trajectory towards EU membership.
A very bad night for Putin, who targeted Moldova with a wave of election propaganda.
It won 51 seats - an outright majority.
Moldova is now on a trajectory towards EU membership.
A very bad night for Putin, who targeted Moldova with a wave of election propaganda.
September 28, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Very happy for Moldovans standing up against corrupt Russian imperialism today.
LOL. LMAO, even. They’re so desperate to shut down Zohran. Side note, what job is this two-bit wannabe mafioso getting in the Trump admin? I’m not even gonna bother saying “hope it was worth it, buddy” because we all know it won’t be. He’ll degrade and debase himself while ZM is cleaning up his mess
BREAKING: Eric Adams drops out of the New York City mayoral race.
Eric Adams drops out of the New York city mayoral race
The New York City mayor had been running a third-party bid.
nbcnews.to
September 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
LOL. LMAO, even. They’re so desperate to shut down Zohran. Side note, what job is this two-bit wannabe mafioso getting in the Trump admin? I’m not even gonna bother saying “hope it was worth it, buddy” because we all know it won’t be. He’ll degrade and debase himself while ZM is cleaning up his mess
Reposted by David O’Brien
Really do think this dismissive attitude is just dumb. It does actually matter if the demographic most likely to kill people, which is men ~16-40, are feeling alienated. Yes, even if you think it’s their fault, yes even if other groups are suffering as much or more. They’re the ones who pick up guns
oh no we are doing won't someone think of the loneliness male epidemic because somehow it's still the fault of not those men discourse again
September 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Really do think this dismissive attitude is just dumb. It does actually matter if the demographic most likely to kill people, which is men ~16-40, are feeling alienated. Yes, even if you think it’s their fault, yes even if other groups are suffering as much or more. They’re the ones who pick up guns
Reposted by David O’Brien
Trump pushed Kimmel into going full resistance lib for the biggest audience he will ever have. Another masterclass from the president.
September 24, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Trump pushed Kimmel into going full resistance lib for the biggest audience he will ever have. Another masterclass from the president.
Reposted by David O’Brien
so much of what this administration is doing is based on creating the perception that he is inevitable and unstoppable and it’s not true and he can lose and it’s important that people see that because the only way he does win is if everyone gives up
September 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
so much of what this administration is doing is based on creating the perception that he is inevitable and unstoppable and it’s not true and he can lose and it’s important that people see that because the only way he does win is if everyone gives up
Reposted by David O’Brien
regardless of the details I think it’s important to spin the Kimmel thing as a win
Trump is weak, he’s unpopular, he massively overreached and inspired enough of a revolt that Disney had to backtrack immediately
he wants to paint himself as an all-powerful dictator, paint him as a loser who sucks
Trump is weak, he’s unpopular, he massively overreached and inspired enough of a revolt that Disney had to backtrack immediately
he wants to paint himself as an all-powerful dictator, paint him as a loser who sucks
September 22, 2025 at 8:28 PM
regardless of the details I think it’s important to spin the Kimmel thing as a win
Trump is weak, he’s unpopular, he massively overreached and inspired enough of a revolt that Disney had to backtrack immediately
he wants to paint himself as an all-powerful dictator, paint him as a loser who sucks
Trump is weak, he’s unpopular, he massively overreached and inspired enough of a revolt that Disney had to backtrack immediately
he wants to paint himself as an all-powerful dictator, paint him as a loser who sucks
Reposted by David O’Brien
They're racists & they're fascists but above all they are the pettiest two-bit criminals you've ever seen
Critical part of the President's new $100,000 charge for H1-B visas: The Administration can also offer a $100,000 discount to any person, company, or industry that it wants. Replacing rules with arbitrary discretion.
Want visas? You know who to call and who to flatter.
Want visas? You know who to call and who to flatter.
September 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
They're racists & they're fascists but above all they are the pettiest two-bit criminals you've ever seen
Reposted by David O’Brien
Democrats shouldn't enable or support this Trump Administration. Oppose it all. Shut it down. Let GOP own it.
September 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Democrats shouldn't enable or support this Trump Administration. Oppose it all. Shut it down. Let GOP own it.
Obviously nowhere near the biggest or most concerning thing here but… you’re apparently allowed to carry liquor into public city council meetings?! This is gonna make public comment so much worse 😫
September 19, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Obviously nowhere near the biggest or most concerning thing here but… you’re apparently allowed to carry liquor into public city council meetings?! This is gonna make public comment so much worse 😫
Reposted by David O’Brien
Canceling Jimmy Kimmel show is not about Charlie Kirk, just like going after universities was not about antisemitism and occupying DC was not about fighting crime.
September 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Canceling Jimmy Kimmel show is not about Charlie Kirk, just like going after universities was not about antisemitism and occupying DC was not about fighting crime.
Reposted by David O’Brien
DOGE isn't fighting fraud — it's potentially exposing Americans to more of it.
Nothing about this fake government agency is "efficient."
Nothing about this fake government agency is "efficient."
A whistleblower has revealed that DOGE officials copied the entire Social Security database — containing sensitive information like Social Security numbers and birthdates of over 300 million Americans — to an unsecured cloud server without proper oversight.
September 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
DOGE isn't fighting fraud — it's potentially exposing Americans to more of it.
Nothing about this fake government agency is "efficient."
Nothing about this fake government agency is "efficient."
Reposted by David O’Brien
One reason why authoritarian regimes govern poorly is that they devalue rationality: they deny the existence of reality, and sooner or later, reality will catch up
The Department of Justice has removed a study showing that white supremacist and far-right violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the United States.
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
DOJ Deletes Study Showing Domestic Terrorists Are Most Often Right Wing
Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the Trump administration’s promise to go after the “radical left” a study showing most domestic terrosim is far-right was disappeared.
www.404media.co
September 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
One reason why authoritarian regimes govern poorly is that they devalue rationality: they deny the existence of reality, and sooner or later, reality will catch up
Can’t wait for the farm bailout to come from the next Dem-led government, after which the farmers will show zero (0) gratitude whatsoever and again vote for a bunch of far-right lunatics
Ultimately the farmers will get their bailout. Might not be from the current round of politicians, but they’ll get it.
Agriculture took a giant gamble that Trump didn’t mean “tariff is the most beautiful word in the English language” when he said it and that turned out to be very wrong.
September 14, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Can’t wait for the farm bailout to come from the next Dem-led government, after which the farmers will show zero (0) gratitude whatsoever and again vote for a bunch of far-right lunatics
Reposted by David O’Brien
It should be needless to say, but it is perhaps at this moment worth saying, that transgender individuals have the same right as anyone else to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
September 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It should be needless to say, but it is perhaps at this moment worth saying, that transgender individuals have the same right as anyone else to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It should concern everyone that one of the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet has completely cooked his brain on internet insanity and is now inciting violence against all manner of marginalized communities
incredible that people are writing long, brow-furrowing posts about "blueskyism" while the owner of x, the everything app whips up one hate-filled mob after the other
Elon, fresh off attempting to incite race riots in England is now trying to incite pogroms against trans people.
September 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
It should concern everyone that one of the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet has completely cooked his brain on internet insanity and is now inciting violence against all manner of marginalized communities
The British fascist Tommy Robinson is leading anti-immigrant marches throughout the UK today, and while it seems he is wildly overstating the attendance (claiming “millions” protesting when it’s likely closer to ~100k), the fact remains that UK voters are getting alarmingly fascism-curious…(1/x)
Approval of Tommy Robinson tends to be 1/10 people who have heard of him, with half of the population critical.
Reform voters a third for & against. Conservatives 6-1 against
His reputation has been pretty stable with mild fluctuations when this has been asked across for the last fifteen years.
Reform voters a third for & against. Conservatives 6-1 against
His reputation has been pretty stable with mild fluctuations when this has been asked across for the last fifteen years.
September 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The British fascist Tommy Robinson is leading anti-immigrant marches throughout the UK today, and while it seems he is wildly overstating the attendance (claiming “millions” protesting when it’s likely closer to ~100k), the fact remains that UK voters are getting alarmingly fascism-curious…(1/x)
Reposted by David O’Brien
The political party who celebrated Paul Pelosi's assault, ignored Melissa Hortman's assassination, laughed at the attempt to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, and cheered as insurrectionists on Jan 6th attempted a violent coup of Congress want you to be ultra respectful about Charlie Kirk
September 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The political party who celebrated Paul Pelosi's assault, ignored Melissa Hortman's assassination, laughed at the attempt to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, and cheered as insurrectionists on Jan 6th attempted a violent coup of Congress want you to be ultra respectful about Charlie Kirk
Reposted by David O’Brien
he was an extremely public figure, he spent many years publicly and clearly articulating what he believed, he was not ambiguous about *anything*, this is a “walter white is the beloved hero of breaking bad” level of bad faith and dishonesty
September 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
he was an extremely public figure, he spent many years publicly and clearly articulating what he believed, he was not ambiguous about *anything*, this is a “walter white is the beloved hero of breaking bad” level of bad faith and dishonesty
Reposted by David O’Brien
There has been a rush among centrists like Gavin Newsom and Ezra Klein to brush over the hateful life of Charlie Kirk and valorize the man.
Let me be clear, killing Charlie Kirk was wrong and abhorrent.
We must condemn murder without sanitizing a man who built his empire on hate.
My latest piece.
Let me be clear, killing Charlie Kirk was wrong and abhorrent.
We must condemn murder without sanitizing a man who built his empire on hate.
My latest piece.
We Must Not Posthumously Sanitize Charlie Kirk's Hateful Life
Influential anti-LGBTQ+ activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday. While condemning violence is something most can get behind, sanitization of his hate has gone too far.
www.erininthemorning.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
There has been a rush among centrists like Gavin Newsom and Ezra Klein to brush over the hateful life of Charlie Kirk and valorize the man.
Let me be clear, killing Charlie Kirk was wrong and abhorrent.
We must condemn murder without sanitizing a man who built his empire on hate.
My latest piece.
Let me be clear, killing Charlie Kirk was wrong and abhorrent.
We must condemn murder without sanitizing a man who built his empire on hate.
My latest piece.
Reposted by David O’Brien
the media rush to canonize charlie kirk is legitimately maybe one of the weirdest things of this nature i have ever seen in my life
September 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
the media rush to canonize charlie kirk is legitimately maybe one of the weirdest things of this nature i have ever seen in my life