Jacob S. Rugh
@jakerugh.bsky.social
Raised on Chicago's South Side. My research has appeared in The Atlantic, 538, The Guardian, KSL, NYT, NPR, Split Ticket, Salt Lake Tribune & Supreme Court cases.
Pinned
Jacob S. Rugh
@jakerugh.bsky.social
· May 2
It's official! I am pleased to announce that I have been promoted to the rank of (full) Professor!
Thanks to all my family, colleagues, friends, and especially the 3,700+ students I have taught these past 13 years.
I feel blessed to have found my calling in life and appreciate your support.
Thanks to all my family, colleagues, friends, and especially the 3,700+ students I have taught these past 13 years.
I feel blessed to have found my calling in life and appreciate your support.
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
🚨BREAKING: In a sweeping victory for voters, a Utah court struck down the GOP-controlled legislature’s congressional gerrymander and a companion law designed to entrench partisan power — restoring a fair map for the 2026 elections. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Utah Judge Strikes Down GOP Gerrymander, Restores Voter-Approved Fair Map
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 PM
🚨BREAKING: In a sweeping victory for voters, a Utah court struck down the GOP-controlled legislature’s congressional gerrymander and a companion law designed to entrench partisan power — restoring a fair map for the 2026 elections. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Provo, Utah Mayoral Results and
Primary-to-General Shifts
Judkins 8,598 (52.2%) ✅️
Kaufusi-inc. 8,200 (48.8%)
Judkins gained +5 pts margin citywide, including > +30-pt. swings among student areas around BYU and esp. Slate Canyon in SE Provo where mud slide hit local area hard post-primary.
Primary-to-General Shifts
Judkins 8,598 (52.2%) ✅️
Kaufusi-inc. 8,200 (48.8%)
Judkins gained +5 pts margin citywide, including > +30-pt. swings among student areas around BYU and esp. Slate Canyon in SE Provo where mud slide hit local area hard post-primary.
November 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Provo, Utah Mayoral Results and
Primary-to-General Shifts
Judkins 8,598 (52.2%) ✅️
Kaufusi-inc. 8,200 (48.8%)
Judkins gained +5 pts margin citywide, including > +30-pt. swings among student areas around BYU and esp. Slate Canyon in SE Provo where mud slide hit local area hard post-primary.
Primary-to-General Shifts
Judkins 8,598 (52.2%) ✅️
Kaufusi-inc. 8,200 (48.8%)
Judkins gained +5 pts margin citywide, including > +30-pt. swings among student areas around BYU and esp. Slate Canyon in SE Provo where mud slide hit local area hard post-primary.
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
No one thought that Democrats would retake the Senate this time in 2005.
May 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
No one thought that Democrats would retake the Senate this time in 2005.
#Breaking Centrist Reform challenger candidate and west side resident Marsha Judkins has clinched the race for Mayor of Provo, 4th most populous city in Utah, after the final batch of votes were tabulated and reported. Her lead is insurmountable given the small number of outstanding ballots to cure.
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
#Breaking Centrist Reform challenger candidate and west side resident Marsha Judkins has clinched the race for Mayor of Provo, 4th most populous city in Utah, after the final batch of votes were tabulated and reported. Her lead is insurmountable given the small number of outstanding ballots to cure.
🗺️MAP Unofficial Results: Provo, UT Mayor
Marsha Judkins (reform candidate) 7,153=50.2%
Michelle Kaufusi (2-term incumbent) 7,094=49.8%
Judkins has gained with every ballot drop, going from down -3.4 to down -1.4 to UP +0.4 already beyond recount threshold. Est. 2K ballots left to drop TONIGHT.
Marsha Judkins (reform candidate) 7,153=50.2%
Michelle Kaufusi (2-term incumbent) 7,094=49.8%
Judkins has gained with every ballot drop, going from down -3.4 to down -1.4 to UP +0.4 already beyond recount threshold. Est. 2K ballots left to drop TONIGHT.
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🗺️MAP Unofficial Results: Provo, UT Mayor
Marsha Judkins (reform candidate) 7,153=50.2%
Michelle Kaufusi (2-term incumbent) 7,094=49.8%
Judkins has gained with every ballot drop, going from down -3.4 to down -1.4 to UP +0.4 already beyond recount threshold. Est. 2K ballots left to drop TONIGHT.
Marsha Judkins (reform candidate) 7,153=50.2%
Michelle Kaufusi (2-term incumbent) 7,094=49.8%
Judkins has gained with every ballot drop, going from down -3.4 to down -1.4 to UP +0.4 already beyond recount threshold. Est. 2K ballots left to drop TONIGHT.
Absolutely incredible shifts in SE Provo--Slate Canyon area especially--and most of the city propelled centrist reform candidate Marsha Judkins to the come-from-behind general election lead vs. 2-term incumbent
Judkins in the driver's seat: very few ballots left to count to change things.
Judkins in the driver's seat: very few ballots left to count to change things.
November 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Absolutely incredible shifts in SE Provo--Slate Canyon area especially--and most of the city propelled centrist reform candidate Marsha Judkins to the come-from-behind general election lead vs. 2-term incumbent
Judkins in the driver's seat: very few ballots left to count to change things.
Judkins in the driver's seat: very few ballots left to count to change things.
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
The latest, 11pm:
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG; & gain in House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—Krasner & Bragg win
—JD's half-brother loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
+ Dem are leading to flip so many local offices.
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG; & gain in House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—Krasner & Bragg win
—JD's half-brother loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
+ Dem are leading to flip so many local offices.
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
The latest, 11pm:
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG; & gain in House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—Krasner & Bragg win
—JD's half-brother loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
+ Dem are leading to flip so many local offices.
—Prop 50 wins
—VA Dems flip Gov, LG, AG; & gain in House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani wins
—PA Dems win supreme court
—ME vote-restricting measure loses
—Krasner & Bragg win
—JD's half-brother loses
—GA Dems flip 2 statewide offices
+ Dem are leading to flip so many local offices.
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
Extraordinary NEW story: We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Extraordinary NEW story: We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. @nicolefoy.bsky.social w/ photos by @sbmaneyphoto.bsky.social
Words of wisdom punctuate this gem from the one and only @tressiemcphd.bsky.social:
"Because no citizen who simply settles for being a consumer of democracy should expect to have a real democracy ever again."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o... [GIFT LINK TO MUST-READ ARTICLE]
"Because no citizen who simply settles for being a consumer of democracy should expect to have a real democracy ever again."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o... [GIFT LINK TO MUST-READ ARTICLE]
October 1, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Words of wisdom punctuate this gem from the one and only @tressiemcphd.bsky.social:
"Because no citizen who simply settles for being a consumer of democracy should expect to have a real democracy ever again."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o... [GIFT LINK TO MUST-READ ARTICLE]
"Because no citizen who simply settles for being a consumer of democracy should expect to have a real democracy ever again."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o... [GIFT LINK TO MUST-READ ARTICLE]
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
The bedrock of democracy is the ability to disagree peacefully. The Utah County Democratic Party unequivocally condemns the use of political violence directed at Charlie Kirk and anyone else. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Kirk’s family and with the Utah Valley University community.
September 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The bedrock of democracy is the ability to disagree peacefully. The Utah County Democratic Party unequivocally condemns the use of political violence directed at Charlie Kirk and anyone else. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Kirk’s family and with the Utah Valley University community.
Excellent analysis of the latest research across various fields in the social sciences on racial segregation in neighborhoods, wards, cities, towns, rural areas, and even congressional districts by @trevondlogan.bsky.social in @aeajournals.bsky.social Journal of Economic Literature
Very happy to see my review with John Parman “Racial Residential Segregation in the United States” is finally out in Journal of Economic Literature! Thanks to everyone who provided feedback as we worked on this over the years!! @aeajournals.bsky.social www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Racial Residential Segregation in the United States
(September 2025) - Residential segregation is a central factor in explaining socioeconomic gaps across race and ethnicity in the United States. Place of residence directly impacts access to schools, j...
www.aeaweb.org
September 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Excellent analysis of the latest research across various fields in the social sciences on racial segregation in neighborhoods, wards, cities, towns, rural areas, and even congressional districts by @trevondlogan.bsky.social in @aeajournals.bsky.social Journal of Economic Literature
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
BREAKING: Social Security Administration chief data officer and whistle-blower Charles Borges has resigned after bombshell report that SSA put highly-sensitive data at risk. He sent out an email to colleagues moments ago.
Here is the text of his email shared with me:
Here is the text of his email shared with me:
August 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
BREAKING: Social Security Administration chief data officer and whistle-blower Charles Borges has resigned after bombshell report that SSA put highly-sensitive data at risk. He sent out an email to colleagues moments ago.
Here is the text of his email shared with me:
Here is the text of his email shared with me:
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
BREAKING: In a massive win for democracy, a Utah judge struck down the GOP’s gerrymandered congressional map.
Utah voters demanded fairer maps and politicians must now deliver.
Utah voters demanded fairer maps and politicians must now deliver.
Utah Strikes Down Gerrymandered Map, Reinstates Voter-Approved Redistricting Reforms
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:06 AM
BREAKING: In a massive win for democracy, a Utah judge struck down the GOP’s gerrymandered congressional map.
Utah voters demanded fairer maps and politicians must now deliver.
Utah voters demanded fairer maps and politicians must now deliver.
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
Breaking: Judge Dianna Gibson has struck down Utahs congressional boundaries, ordering the Legislature to adopt new maps within 30 days that comply with the 2018 Better Boundaries initiative.
www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Utah judge tosses Legislature’s gerrymandered congressional maps, orders new maps redrawn
A judge threw out Utah’s congressional maps and ordered the Legislature to draw new districts that comply with the 2018 voter-backed Better Boundaries initiative, which sought to ban partisan gerryman...
www.sltrib.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Breaking: Judge Dianna Gibson has struck down Utahs congressional boundaries, ordering the Legislature to adopt new maps within 30 days that comply with the 2018 Better Boundaries initiative.
www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
August 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
Gallup has new polling on immigration. Topline findings:
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)
news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)
news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...
July 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Gallup has new polling on immigration. Topline findings:
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)
news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)
news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
The arbitrary exercise of government power is the signature act of authoritarian regimes
The White House has ordered the US Dept. of Justice to prioritize denaturalization: voiding the citizenship of US citizens.
Who will it denaturalize? "Any" case that it "determines to be sufficiently important".
Point 10 leaves the criteria opaque and arbitrary.
substack.com/redirect/169...
Who will it denaturalize? "Any" case that it "determines to be sufficiently important".
Point 10 leaves the criteria opaque and arbitrary.
substack.com/redirect/169...
June 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The arbitrary exercise of government power is the signature act of authoritarian regimes
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
It's not just the US murder rate that is likely at or near the lowest level ever recorded. The data from the first 4 months of 2025 points to the possibility of the lowest reported property crime rate ever & lowest violent crime rate in decades. This week's piece:
jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
It's Not Just Murder That's Likely At Historic Lows
The US is on track to record the lowest violent crime rate since 1968 and lowest property crime rate ever.
jasher.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 12:06 PM
It's not just the US murder rate that is likely at or near the lowest level ever recorded. The data from the first 4 months of 2025 points to the possibility of the lowest reported property crime rate ever & lowest violent crime rate in decades. This week's piece:
jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
Trending today on the @pewresearch.org site: "A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq"
A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq
Twenty years ago this month, the U.S. launched a major invasion of Iraq. President George W. Bush and his administration at first drew broad public support for the use of military force. Yet the campa...
www.pewresearch.org
June 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Trending today on the @pewresearch.org site: "A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq"
@ryanburge.bsky.social reports NO change in LDS/Mormon vote, 2020-2024
This is meaningful bc the non-LDS vote moved +6 R (LDS +6 D vs. USA chg.)
"The conclusion...is unmistakable-the LDS electorate is not so strongly tied with the Republican party now."
www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/2024-elect...
This is meaningful bc the non-LDS vote moved +6 R (LDS +6 D vs. USA chg.)
"The conclusion...is unmistakable-the LDS electorate is not so strongly tied with the Republican party now."
www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/2024-elect...
June 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
@ryanburge.bsky.social reports NO change in LDS/Mormon vote, 2020-2024
This is meaningful bc the non-LDS vote moved +6 R (LDS +6 D vs. USA chg.)
"The conclusion...is unmistakable-the LDS electorate is not so strongly tied with the Republican party now."
www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/2024-elect...
This is meaningful bc the non-LDS vote moved +6 R (LDS +6 D vs. USA chg.)
"The conclusion...is unmistakable-the LDS electorate is not so strongly tied with the Republican party now."
www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/2024-elect...
Reposted by Jacob S. Rugh
NEW: Census Bureau lost over 1,000 employees through early retirement and voluntary separation offers in recent months and plans to cut some statistical work, acting Director Ron Jarmin says. "It feels a little bit like Thanos snapped his finger and a lot of your friends and colleagues went away..."
May 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
NEW: Census Bureau lost over 1,000 employees through early retirement and voluntary separation offers in recent months and plans to cut some statistical work, acting Director Ron Jarmin says. "It feels a little bit like Thanos snapped his finger and a lot of your friends and colleagues went away..."