Matt T
@powersoffour.bsky.social
I'm an academic in Information Sciences, background in computational astrophysics. I tend to post about academic stuff, open source, politics, tabletop roleplaying games, MS-DOS and occasionally the 1975 Joe Don Baker movie "Mitchell."
Reposted by Matt T
“Campus leaders need to understand that their capitulations and concessions only further empower the greatest threat to higher education since the Red Scare, if not earlier.”
(The AAUP contends that this moment is far worse.)
Act Now.
Never Cave.
#DefendHigherEd
(The AAUP contends that this moment is far worse.)
Act Now.
Never Cave.
#DefendHigherEd
June 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
“Campus leaders need to understand that their capitulations and concessions only further empower the greatest threat to higher education since the Red Scare, if not earlier.”
(The AAUP contends that this moment is far worse.)
Act Now.
Never Cave.
#DefendHigherEd
(The AAUP contends that this moment is far worse.)
Act Now.
Never Cave.
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by Matt T
And for folks who may not be from NYC, or may not know — this is who @bradlander.bsky.social has always been! I’m so glad that so many more folks are getting to meet him.
"They lit $20 million on fire, and all it did was boost Zohran's numbers. And in no small part because they corrupted their own souls by supporting a person they know to be a corrupt, abusive asshole. What are they gonna do now?"
@bradlander.bsky.social, the man you are.
(via @hellgatenyc.com)
@bradlander.bsky.social, the man you are.
(via @hellgatenyc.com)
Brad Lander, Unfiltered and Unplugged
He didn't win the Democratic mayoral primary… but he won a lot of New Yorkers' hearts.
hellgatenyc.com
June 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
And for folks who may not be from NYC, or may not know — this is who @bradlander.bsky.social has always been! I’m so glad that so many more folks are getting to meet him.
Reposted by Matt T
If you'll be in DC on Monday, why not join us? And if you can't, please consider taking one of the other actions on your own time.
Protest planned to save NASA from Trump cuts! Join us in DC Monday, June 30, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
June 27, 2025 at 8:54 PM
If you'll be in DC on Monday, why not join us? And if you can't, please consider taking one of the other actions on your own time.
Reposted by Matt T
The Supreme Court's decision sets a dangerous precedent.
When I signed into law LGBTQ+ history in our curriculum, I hoped schools would become more welcoming to all.
We'll keep telling the whole story of our shared history in Illinois, whether through storybooks or textbooks.
When I signed into law LGBTQ+ history in our curriculum, I hoped schools would become more welcoming to all.
We'll keep telling the whole story of our shared history in Illinois, whether through storybooks or textbooks.
Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ books
A lawyer says the Supreme Court's ruling that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks is a historic victory for parenta...
apnews.com
June 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The Supreme Court's decision sets a dangerous precedent.
When I signed into law LGBTQ+ history in our curriculum, I hoped schools would become more welcoming to all.
We'll keep telling the whole story of our shared history in Illinois, whether through storybooks or textbooks.
When I signed into law LGBTQ+ history in our curriculum, I hoped schools would become more welcoming to all.
We'll keep telling the whole story of our shared history in Illinois, whether through storybooks or textbooks.
Reposted by Matt T
Earlier, several NIH staffers told me that NIH awards that had been held are being issued now. Bunches of them.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
DOGE loses control over government grants website, freeing up billions
The DOGE team’s loss of control is the latest sign of its declining influence following Elon Musk’s departure from Washington.
wapo.st
June 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Earlier, several NIH staffers told me that NIH awards that had been held are being issued now. Bunches of them.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Reposted by Matt T
"...sadly, this seems to be a last ditch attempt by Virginia Governor [Glenn] Youngkin to resuscitate his floundering presidential ambitions by proving he is the chief destroyer of DEI." - @katiecouric.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2025/06/uva-...
June 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
"...sadly, this seems to be a last ditch attempt by Virginia Governor [Glenn] Youngkin to resuscitate his floundering presidential ambitions by proving he is the chief destroyer of DEI." - @katiecouric.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2025/06/uva-...
Reposted by Matt T
During McCarthyism, they went after individuals to force their agenda, now they're going after entire institutions.
The Trump administration is doing everything they can to reverse all progress toward creating a higher education system assessable to all.
We must fight back.
#DefendHigherEd
The Trump administration is doing everything they can to reverse all progress toward creating a higher education system assessable to all.
We must fight back.
#DefendHigherEd
University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM
During McCarthyism, they went after individuals to force their agenda, now they're going after entire institutions.
The Trump administration is doing everything they can to reverse all progress toward creating a higher education system assessable to all.
We must fight back.
#DefendHigherEd
The Trump administration is doing everything they can to reverse all progress toward creating a higher education system assessable to all.
We must fight back.
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by Matt T
But it can’t be the individual or even the few in a few disciplines. Like those who attack higher ed at institutional level, it must be a collective front. The moment has called us. If we listen.
June 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
But it can’t be the individual or even the few in a few disciplines. Like those who attack higher ed at institutional level, it must be a collective front. The moment has called us. If we listen.
Reposted by Matt T
Reposted by Matt T
folks with signs on the rotunda steps leading a chant of “the whole world is watching”
June 27, 2025 at 7:31 PM
folks with signs on the rotunda steps leading a chant of “the whole world is watching”
Reposted by Matt T
More than 100 UVA faculty (and counting) have signed an open letter condemning political interference in the university. The forced installation of a new president under these circumstances will cast a shadow on teaching and research. Read here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Open Letter on Academic Freedom at UVA
Open Letter from Members of the Faculty of the University of Virginia In light of reporting that officials at the Department of Justice are pressuring University of Virginia President Jim Ryan to re...
docs.google.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
More than 100 UVA faculty (and counting) have signed an open letter condemning political interference in the university. The forced installation of a new president under these circumstances will cast a shadow on teaching and research. Read here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Trying really hard to push through, get things accomplished for projects I care about. Tough day for that.
June 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Trying really hard to push through, get things accomplished for projects I care about. Tough day for that.
Reposted by Matt T
Part of the story about the war on US higher ed right now is university board members who want to see changes for the school that they can’t achieve structurally or politically – their power not in fact being unqualified – inviting and enabling federal incursion to make those changes
I get to be the proud alum who explains to everybody in the group chat how the governor pushed people onto the board and those new members began working with DOJ to threaten the president so he would resign so they could do a coup and replace him with someone that would destroy the university
June 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Part of the story about the war on US higher ed right now is university board members who want to see changes for the school that they can’t achieve structurally or politically – their power not in fact being unqualified – inviting and enabling federal incursion to make those changes
Reposted by Matt T
Hey, I know the people who need to hear this are probably not on this site, but here’s a free tip:
Stop resigning. Make the fascists fire you. Make them own their actions, then fight it with whatever legal remedies you can find.
We can’t win if people don’t fight.
Stop resigning. Make the fascists fire you. Make them own their actions, then fight it with whatever legal remedies you can find.
We can’t win if people don’t fight.
June 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Hey, I know the people who need to hear this are probably not on this site, but here’s a free tip:
Stop resigning. Make the fascists fire you. Make them own their actions, then fight it with whatever legal remedies you can find.
We can’t win if people don’t fight.
Stop resigning. Make the fascists fire you. Make them own their actions, then fight it with whatever legal remedies you can find.
We can’t win if people don’t fight.
Reposted by Matt T
This outrageous Supreme Court decision is another reminder that the courts won’t save us. Today’s ruling from the MAGA SCOTUS is all the more reason why Democrats in Congress must fight like hell to block Trump’s policies from being enacted and gum up the works as much as possible.
Trump says supreme court limiting judges’ powers is ‘monumental victory’ as liberal justices dissent – live
Sonia Sotomayor says decision is an ‘open invitation … to bypass the constitution’; joined by Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson
www.theguardian.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
This outrageous Supreme Court decision is another reminder that the courts won’t save us. Today’s ruling from the MAGA SCOTUS is all the more reason why Democrats in Congress must fight like hell to block Trump’s policies from being enacted and gum up the works as much as possible.
Glad tariffs on Canada are back. Record stock market performance immediately following contraction of the economy needed a little juice of excitement to really keep the wheels rolling.
June 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Glad tariffs on Canada are back. Record stock market performance immediately following contraction of the economy needed a little juice of excitement to really keep the wheels rolling.
I grew up in a high school where Creationism was a Big Deal. It's weird to say this, but it was in some cases a stalking horse for deeper causes that ran counter to value systems I'd like to see in my community.
June 27, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I grew up in a high school where Creationism was a Big Deal. It's weird to say this, but it was in some cases a stalking horse for deeper causes that ran counter to value systems I'd like to see in my community.
Reposted by Matt T
Just to give a sense of how insane the birthright citizenship stuff is, this is what the constitution actually says about the matter.
There is literally nothing controversial about it. Either 2+2=4 or nothing means anything.
There is literally nothing controversial about it. Either 2+2=4 or nothing means anything.
June 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Just to give a sense of how insane the birthright citizenship stuff is, this is what the constitution actually says about the matter.
There is literally nothing controversial about it. Either 2+2=4 or nothing means anything.
There is literally nothing controversial about it. Either 2+2=4 or nothing means anything.
Reposted by Matt T
the president does not actually have the power to fire a university president or a museum director, but if elites simply roll over under pressure, then effectively he does
June 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
the president does not actually have the power to fire a university president or a museum director, but if elites simply roll over under pressure, then effectively he does
Reposted by Matt T
The president of the United States has claimed—and been granted—the power to fire a university president or a TV news reporter or a museum director
June 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The president of the United States has claimed—and been granted—the power to fire a university president or a TV news reporter or a museum director
Reposted by Matt T
As Trump and his allies continue to attack the Rule of Law and undermine the foundations of the United States Constitution, Illinois will stay true to who we are: we are the Land of Lincoln, and we will forcefully defend the freedoms and rights of our people.
June 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
As Trump and his allies continue to attack the Rule of Law and undermine the foundations of the United States Constitution, Illinois will stay true to who we are: we are the Land of Lincoln, and we will forcefully defend the freedoms and rights of our people.
I'm just sick over all this.
June 27, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I'm just sick over all this.
Reposted by Matt T
Reposted by Matt T
you have to ask, what will constitute a resolution of the civil rights investigation? let's say UVA completely dismantles everything related to diversity and still admits a class where a third of the student body is nonwhite. would the administration consider this per se evidence of discrimination?
June 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
you have to ask, what will constitute a resolution of the civil rights investigation? let's say UVA completely dismantles everything related to diversity and still admits a class where a third of the student body is nonwhite. would the administration consider this per se evidence of discrimination?