John Palfrey
@palfrey.org
President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Prayers for our friends and neighbors in Delhi today.
A car exploded near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital Monday, killing at least eight people, injuring several others and triggering a fire that damaged several vehicles parked nearby, New Delhi police said. https://to.pbs.org/43jCG6X
Car explodes near historic fort in India's capital, killing at least 8 people, police say
Several fire engines rushed to the scene in New Delhi after the blast was reported near one of the gates of the Red Fort metro station.
www.pbs.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Prayers for our friends and neighbors in Delhi today.
We all owe Judge Wolf a major debt of gratitude for his willingness to resign his lifetime tenure as a federal judge in order to stand up for the Rule of Law with his full voice.
Judge Wolf was appointed by President Reagan.
#RuleofLaw
#CourageIsContagious
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Judge Wolf was appointed by President Reagan.
#RuleofLaw
#CourageIsContagious
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
We all owe Judge Wolf a major debt of gratitude for his willingness to resign his lifetime tenure as a federal judge in order to stand up for the Rule of Law with his full voice.
Judge Wolf was appointed by President Reagan.
#RuleofLaw
#CourageIsContagious
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Judge Wolf was appointed by President Reagan.
#RuleofLaw
#CourageIsContagious
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by John Palfrey
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
November 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
Reposted by John Palfrey
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw a vendor quietly give food to someone whose EBT (SNAP) card didn’t have enough money on it.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw a vendor quietly give food to someone whose EBT (SNAP) card didn’t have enough money on it.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
We’re starting to see how this ends
Trump is running out of options
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
In the category of "things that will not age well" when this cruelty chapter comes to a close.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Officials Demand States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
In the category of "things that will not age well" when this cruelty chapter comes to a close.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
How To Find Food — Or Help Neighbors In Need — While SNAP Is Paused
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/h...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/h...
How To Find Food — Or Help Neighbors In Need — While SNAP Is Paused
Block Club put together a list of resources for anyone who needs assistance or for people looking for ways to help amid the pause in food assistance benefits.
blockclubchicago.org
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
How To Find Food — Or Help Neighbors In Need — While SNAP Is Paused
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/h...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/h...
An idea: what if Members of Congress who are being paid taxpayer dollars *not to show up to work* were to give their pay -- or a chunk of it -- to food banks to help feed people being denied federal benefits during their shutdown? Could be a nice non-partisan way for Members to come together.
November 8, 2025 at 2:20 PM
An idea: what if Members of Congress who are being paid taxpayer dollars *not to show up to work* were to give their pay -- or a chunk of it -- to food banks to help feed people being denied federal benefits during their shutdown? Could be a nice non-partisan way for Members to come together.
Asking the Supreme Court for permission not to give people the chance to eat. As Thanksgiving approaches.
November 8, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Asking the Supreme Court for permission not to give people the chance to eat. As Thanksgiving approaches.
Chicago business, civic and faith leaders join together to call for end to immigration raids
abc7chicago.com/post/united-...
abc7chicago.com/post/united-...
Chicago business, civic and faith leaders join together to call for end to immigration raids
For the first time since Operation Midway Blitz began, a large group of Chicago's business, civic and faith leaders jointed together to call for an end to the ICE raids. They say it's having a big imp...
abc7chicago.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Chicago business, civic and faith leaders join together to call for end to immigration raids
abc7chicago.com/post/united-...
abc7chicago.com/post/united-...
"The use of force shocks the conscience."
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Judge Criticizes Immigration Agents in Chicago: ‘Use of Force Shocks the Conscience’
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 PM
"The use of force shocks the conscience."
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
💯.
And on top of that, courts saying it needs to get done.
People should not be going hungry *as a choice* in America.
Food benefits should run out just in time for Thanksgiving?
And on top of that, courts saying it needs to get done.
People should not be going hungry *as a choice* in America.
Food benefits should run out just in time for Thanksgiving?
Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.
November 6, 2025 at 2:19 AM
💯.
And on top of that, courts saying it needs to get done.
People should not be going hungry *as a choice* in America.
Food benefits should run out just in time for Thanksgiving?
And on top of that, courts saying it needs to get done.
People should not be going hungry *as a choice* in America.
Food benefits should run out just in time for Thanksgiving?
"There is yet life kicking in this broken democracy."
- Sherrilyn Ifill
@sifill.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
- Sherrilyn Ifill
@sifill.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Takeaways From Election 2025
Keep Fighting
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:06 AM
"There is yet life kicking in this broken democracy."
- Sherrilyn Ifill
@sifill.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
- Sherrilyn Ifill
@sifill.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Reposted by John Palfrey
Leo underlined that scripture emphasizes the question that will be posed at the end of the world: “How did you receive the foreigner, did you receive him and welcome him, or not? I think there is a deep reflection that needs to be made about what is happening.”
#Pinks
apnews.com/article/vati...
#Pinks
apnews.com/article/vati...
Pope Leo calls for 'deep reflection' about treatment of detained migrants in the United States
Pope Leo XIV has called for deep reflection in the United States regarding the treatment of detained migrants.
apnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Leo underlined that scripture emphasizes the question that will be posed at the end of the world: “How did you receive the foreigner, did you receive him and welcome him, or not? I think there is a deep reflection that needs to be made about what is happening.”
#Pinks
apnews.com/article/vati...
#Pinks
apnews.com/article/vati...
Reposted by John Palfrey
Elections (still) matter.
We need to keep it that way, with free and fair elections, in 2026.
SafeguardingDemocracyProject.org.
We need to keep it that way, with free and fair elections, in 2026.
SafeguardingDemocracyProject.org.
Safeguarding Democracy Project
The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at ensuring continued free and fair elections in the United States, conducted in accordance with dem...
SafeguardingDemocracyProject.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Elections (still) matter.
We need to keep it that way, with free and fair elections, in 2026.
SafeguardingDemocracyProject.org.
We need to keep it that way, with free and fair elections, in 2026.
SafeguardingDemocracyProject.org.
Happy Election Day, America!
Happy #ElectionDay!
Voters in 14 cities & counties in 7 states are using #RankedChoiceVoting, including to elect mayors in:
➡️ Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
➡️ Santa Fe, NM
➡️ Fort Collins, CO
Learn more⬇️
Voters in 14 cities & counties in 7 states are using #RankedChoiceVoting, including to elect mayors in:
➡️ Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
➡️ Santa Fe, NM
➡️ Fort Collins, CO
Learn more⬇️
Fact Sheet: Ranked Choice Voting in 2025 Elections - FairVote
Voters in 18 cities and counties are using ranked choice voting to elect their leaders in 2025. That includes the largest cities 3 states.
fairvote.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Happy Election Day, America!
Reposted by John Palfrey
Setti Warren, the director of Harvard University's Institute of Politics and former mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, has died. He was 55.
Warren’s death was announced on Sunday by Harvard. He was also an adjunct lecturer in public policy at the university's Kennedy School.
Warren’s death was announced on Sunday by Harvard. He was also an adjunct lecturer in public policy at the university's Kennedy School.
November 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Setti Warren, the director of Harvard University's Institute of Politics and former mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, has died. He was 55.
Warren’s death was announced on Sunday by Harvard. He was also an adjunct lecturer in public policy at the university's Kennedy School.
Warren’s death was announced on Sunday by Harvard. He was also an adjunct lecturer in public policy at the university's Kennedy School.
Reposted by John Palfrey
The closer the source, the stronger the trust. 70 percent of Americans say they trust local news compared to just 56 percent for national news.
via @pewresearch.org
Learn more: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
via @pewresearch.org
Learn more: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
How Americans’ trust in information from news organizations and social media sites has changed over time
Overall, 56% of U.S. adults now say they have a lot of or some trust in the information they get from national news organizations – down 11 percentage points since March 2025.
www.pewresearch.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The closer the source, the stronger the trust. 70 percent of Americans say they trust local news compared to just 56 percent for national news.
via @pewresearch.org
Learn more: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
via @pewresearch.org
Learn more: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
The cruelty is astonishing. Setting aside everything else, I refuse to believe straight up cruelty to other humans is good politics in the long run.
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
November 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The cruelty is astonishing. Setting aside everything else, I refuse to believe straight up cruelty to other humans is good politics in the long run.
Thank you to @economist.com for the chance to write this week about philanthropic freedoms -- the freedom of expression, the freedom to give, the freedom to invest.
These rights are enshrined in the First Amendment. They have been bedrock for more than 2 centuries. And they are now under attack.
These rights are enshrined in the First Amendment. They have been bedrock for more than 2 centuries. And they are now under attack.
The American government’s attacks on non-profits are “a bad idea”, writes John Palfrey in a guest essay. “Taken together, they constitute a fundamental attack on freedom of expression”
Attacks on America’s non-profits threaten basic rights and social cohesion, writes John Palfrey
The foundation head says it’s not too late to fight back—just as free-thinkers did against McCarthyism
econ.st
November 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Thank you to @economist.com for the chance to write this week about philanthropic freedoms -- the freedom of expression, the freedom to give, the freedom to invest.
These rights are enshrined in the First Amendment. They have been bedrock for more than 2 centuries. And they are now under attack.
These rights are enshrined in the First Amendment. They have been bedrock for more than 2 centuries. And they are now under attack.
Reposted by John Palfrey
More than 47 million Americans — including one in five children — don’t have reliable, affordable access to nutritious food. And as the cost of living skyrockets, more families are depending on SNAP benefits, or food stamps, to put food on the table.
October 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
More than 47 million Americans — including one in five children — don’t have reliable, affordable access to nutritious food. And as the cost of living skyrockets, more families are depending on SNAP benefits, or food stamps, to put food on the table.
Reposted by John Palfrey
#BREAKING: In the Illinois National Guard case, #SCOTUS is asking for additional briefing on one of the key substantive questions (and one flagged by my Georgetown colleague @martylederman.bsky.social in an amicus brief):
Among other things, this means no ruling until *at least* the week of 11/17.
Among other things, this means no ruling until *at least* the week of 11/17.
October 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
#BREAKING: In the Illinois National Guard case, #SCOTUS is asking for additional briefing on one of the key substantive questions (and one flagged by my Georgetown colleague @martylederman.bsky.social in an amicus brief):
Among other things, this means no ruling until *at least* the week of 11/17.
Among other things, this means no ruling until *at least* the week of 11/17.
“Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing Tuesday morning. “They just don’t.”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...
Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order
“Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing Tuesday morning. “They just don't."
blockclubchicago.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing Tuesday morning. “They just don’t.”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...
Reposted by John Palfrey
The paperback edition of #OnFreedom is out today. It preserves a positive argument about how to build a better country and has been updated to account for what has happened in 2025.
timothysnyder.org/on-freedom
timothysnyder.org/on-freedom
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The paperback edition of #OnFreedom is out today. It preserves a positive argument about how to build a better country and has been updated to account for what has happened in 2025.
timothysnyder.org/on-freedom
timothysnyder.org/on-freedom
“Why do I have to explain to my 4-year-old why he can’t play baseball in the backyard?"
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/a...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/a...
After Halloween Parade Ruined By Federal Agents, Old Irving Park Neighbors Furious
Old Irving Park welcomes thousands of trick-or-treaters from across the city every Halloween. This year, neighbors are making plans to protect each other from federal agents after Saturday’s violent i...
blockclubchicago.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“Why do I have to explain to my 4-year-old why he can’t play baseball in the backyard?"
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/a...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/a...