Emery Berger
@emeryberger.bsky.social
Professor, Computer Science, UMass; Amazon Scholar. I work on programming languages & systems, among other things. http://PLASMA-UMass.org, http://github.com/plasma-umass, http://CSrankings.org, http://github.com/emeryberger. ACM Fellow.
Reposted by Emery Berger
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
Reposted by Emery Berger
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
November 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Reposted by Emery Berger
An Emirati investment fund used a Trump-family cryptocurrency in a $2 billion deal. The cryptocurrency had been on the market for five weeks. The Emiratis tell 60 Minutes they chose World Liberty crypto for “business suitability.” cbsn.ws/4r3epvX
November 17, 2025 at 12:56 AM
An Emirati investment fund used a Trump-family cryptocurrency in a $2 billion deal. The cryptocurrency had been on the market for five weeks. The Emiratis tell 60 Minutes they chose World Liberty crypto for “business suitability.” cbsn.ws/4r3epvX
Reposted by Emery Berger
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Reposted by Emery Berger
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
Reposted by Emery Berger
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
Reposted by Emery Berger
Remember when Obama cancelled funds for NJ after Christie won governorship in 2009? Or when Biden cancelled funds for VA after Youngkin won in 2021?
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
November 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Remember when Obama cancelled funds for NJ after Christie won governorship in 2009? Or when Biden cancelled funds for VA after Youngkin won in 2021?
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
You can’t remember that, because those things never happened.
What Trump threatens—cancelling funds because of election results—is unprecedented.
Reposted by Emery Berger
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article)
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Emery Berger
Alvin Holsey, who ran bombings as SouthCom head, resigned with no explanation. Rep Adam Smith says Pentagon denied request for testimony and Rs aren't pushing for it.
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
October 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Alvin Holsey, who ran bombings as SouthCom head, resigned with no explanation. Rep Adam Smith says Pentagon denied request for testimony and Rs aren't pushing for it.
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
"We need to hear: Did he quit because he believed he was being given illegal orders?”
New details:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Emery Berger
This was published one year ago. Everything is, sadly, true today.
October 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This was published one year ago. Everything is, sadly, true today.
Reposted by Emery Berger
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
So many own goals.
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Once again: higher ed is one of our most successful exports. We export more higher ed to China than soybeans. And yet Trump and the mini-Trumps are deliberately destroying the quality of our product
Reposted by Emery Berger
This is true—Bessent owns $25 million of farmland in North Dakota—and a reminder of why farm bailouts are nothing more than a giveaway to feudal lords who demand the government grossly distort agricultural economics to make their tax haven "farms" even more valuable to them.
Bessent on American farmers being hurt by tariffs: "Martha, in case you don't know it, I'm actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too."
October 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This is true—Bessent owns $25 million of farmland in North Dakota—and a reminder of why farm bailouts are nothing more than a giveaway to feudal lords who demand the government grossly distort agricultural economics to make their tax haven "farms" even more valuable to them.
Reposted by Emery Berger
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
Reposted by Emery Berger
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reagan's approach to the world prominently featured two things:
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
1) Russian aggression bad, Western democratic alliance good
2) Free trade good, tariffs and other barriers to trade bad
Pretending it's the opposite is the sort of reality inversion only someone who rejects truth itself could buy.
Reposted by Emery Berger
BREAKING: new racist Republican groupchat has been leaked to Politico featuring texts from Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
Ingrassia’s texts include vile pro-Nazi & racist messages targeting Black people, Chinese people, and Indian people.
Ingrassia’s texts include vile pro-Nazi & racist messages targeting Black people, Chinese people, and Indian people.
October 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM
BREAKING: new racist Republican groupchat has been leaked to Politico featuring texts from Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
Ingrassia’s texts include vile pro-Nazi & racist messages targeting Black people, Chinese people, and Indian people.
Ingrassia’s texts include vile pro-Nazi & racist messages targeting Black people, Chinese people, and Indian people.
Reposted by Emery Berger
🚨🚨🚨Hegseth has now struck a boat belonging to the ELN guerrillas — bringing the US into a shooting war with group that has been fighting the Colombian govt since 1964! Meanwhile, Tump cut off aid to Colombia claiming President Petro was in league with traffickers.🙄
This is insanely dangerous!!!🚨🚨🚨
This is insanely dangerous!!!🚨🚨🚨
October 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🚨🚨🚨Hegseth has now struck a boat belonging to the ELN guerrillas — bringing the US into a shooting war with group that has been fighting the Colombian govt since 1964! Meanwhile, Tump cut off aid to Colombia claiming President Petro was in league with traffickers.🙄
This is insanely dangerous!!!🚨🚨🚨
This is insanely dangerous!!!🚨🚨🚨
Reposted by Emery Berger
Those with sharp eyes might detect a subtle difference in NYT play last month of an event in one city, w 100,000+ attendees, versus play this morning of some 2500+ events w many millions of attendees, in all 50 states.
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
October 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Those with sharp eyes might detect a subtle difference in NYT play last month of an event in one city, w 100,000+ attendees, versus play this morning of some 2500+ events w many millions of attendees, in all 50 states.
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
Reposted by Emery Berger
notice the general mood of the timeline? how everyone is in a good mood and there’s a lot less misery and dooming? how there’s a lot of “we’re going to beat these assholes”?
anyway that’s why these events are important
anyway that’s why these events are important
October 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
notice the general mood of the timeline? how everyone is in a good mood and there’s a lot less misery and dooming? how there’s a lot of “we’re going to beat these assholes”?
anyway that’s why these events are important
anyway that’s why these events are important
Reposted by Emery Berger
"Think of this as the equivalent of participation in a faith community that meets to worship—a regular practice to guard against loneliness and despair, and check in with others going through a similar experience.”
How to Spook a Fascist
YouTube video by Degenerate Art by Andrea Pitzer
www.youtube.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
"Think of this as the equivalent of participation in a faith community that meets to worship—a regular practice to guard against loneliness and despair, and check in with others going through a similar experience.”
Reposted by Emery Berger
when i say that i yelped in shock at this kid’s sign
October 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
when i say that i yelped in shock at this kid’s sign
Reposted by Emery Berger
No Kings-Austin,TX
October 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
No Kings-Austin,TX
Reposted by Emery Berger
October 18, 2025 at 7:43 PM
October 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Even the Tusken Raiders have had enough! (#NoKings Amherst Mass.)
October 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Even the Tusken Raiders have had enough! (#NoKings Amherst Mass.)