Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
@sahrens.bsky.social
Political theory and philosophy, democracy, trust, pop culture, cats, typos
Are you contingent faculty (adjuncts, lecturers, anyone not TT) at Columbia? Talk to me or visit https://cfcu-uaw.org.
Views my own, not reflective of my employer, etc.
Are you contingent faculty (adjuncts, lecturers, anyone not TT) at Columbia? Talk to me or visit https://cfcu-uaw.org.
Views my own, not reflective of my employer, etc.
Past weekend projects: grading, voting, Frankenstein, and an oratorio
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Past weekend projects: grading, voting, Frankenstein, and an oratorio
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
Retired intelligence analysts confirm what the political scientists are telling us — and what the world outside is telling us — the goal of these people is the end of law, the end of democracy, and the end of a recognizable republic.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US ‘on a trajectory’ toward authoritarian rule, ex-officials warn
A network of former intelligence and security officers says democratic decline is accelerating under Trump’s rule
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Retired intelligence analysts confirm what the political scientists are telling us — and what the world outside is telling us — the goal of these people is the end of law, the end of democracy, and the end of a recognizable republic.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
A few signs from NYC. The start was tough as people didn’t realize or struggled to go down from a huge mass that needed to be funneled onto one street after Duffy Square. We eventually went around to move forward. A lot of people probably waited a while at that bottleneck.
October 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A few signs from NYC. The start was tough as people didn’t realize or struggled to go down from a huge mass that needed to be funneled onto one street after Duffy Square. We eventually went around to move forward. A lot of people probably waited a while at that bottleneck.
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
🚨The Graduate Student Support Grant is now open 🚨 If you are a graduate student in political science with an urgent financial need-please apply today! Awards are given to applicants on a lottery basis. It doesn't hurt to apply. connect.apsanet.org/graduate/gra...
Graduate Student Member Support Grant FAQ
connect.apsanet.org
October 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
🚨The Graduate Student Support Grant is now open 🚨 If you are a graduate student in political science with an urgent financial need-please apply today! Awards are given to applicants on a lottery basis. It doesn't hurt to apply. connect.apsanet.org/graduate/gra...
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
LA Times: "'It backfired,' said one senior administrator at UCLA, reflecting the sense of whiplash. .... 'Within hours of announcing our settlement, the DOJ was on our back.'
WHO COULD'VE SEEN THIS COMING
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ypqo...
WHO COULD'VE SEEN THIS COMING
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ypqo...
www.dropbox.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:47 PM
LA Times: "'It backfired,' said one senior administrator at UCLA, reflecting the sense of whiplash. .... 'Within hours of announcing our settlement, the DOJ was on our back.'
WHO COULD'VE SEEN THIS COMING
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ypqo...
WHO COULD'VE SEEN THIS COMING
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ypqo...
22 boxes closer to NYC
July 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
22 boxes closer to NYC
Currently doing the I'm-about-to-switch-academic-institutions-mega-library-download shuffle. RIP my downloads folder and devonthink.
July 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Currently doing the I'm-about-to-switch-academic-institutions-mega-library-download shuffle. RIP my downloads folder and devonthink.
I cannot overstate how much growing up in TX colors my view of politics and the work I do on trust and democracy. My experience was repeatedly having my representatives lie to me and others, watching my state government act anti-constitutionally and consolidate power through gerrymandering.
July 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I cannot overstate how much growing up in TX colors my view of politics and the work I do on trust and democracy. My experience was repeatedly having my representatives lie to me and others, watching my state government act anti-constitutionally and consolidate power through gerrymandering.
Posting here is all well and good, but have you texted/facetimed/called your friends and fam reminding them to call their reps? Remind them that their voices matter!
June 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Posting here is all well and good, but have you texted/facetimed/called your friends and fam reminding them to call their reps? Remind them that their voices matter!
Me: I should get some writing done.
All branches of the US government: 🌪️ 🌀 🔥 🌊 🚩💩🦟☄️⛈️
All branches of the US government: 🌪️ 🌀 🔥 🌊 🚩💩🦟☄️⛈️
June 30, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Me: I should get some writing done.
All branches of the US government: 🌪️ 🌀 🔥 🌊 🚩💩🦟☄️⛈️
All branches of the US government: 🌪️ 🌀 🔥 🌊 🚩💩🦟☄️⛈️
Packing for a move means going through old papers to trash or keep. I am reminded that I boldly titled my dissertation prospectus “Built to Fail: The American Founding and a Crisis of Political Trust” 😅
June 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Packing for a move means going through old papers to trash or keep. I am reminded that I boldly titled my dissertation prospectus “Built to Fail: The American Founding and a Crisis of Political Trust” 😅
First big dinner party (~10 people) in a while since the job market was all consuming this year. I missed it. Cooking, gathering, eating…that’s the stuff.
June 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
First big dinner party (~10 people) in a while since the job market was all consuming this year. I missed it. Cooking, gathering, eating…that’s the stuff.
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
We're standing in solidarity with @seiu509.bsky.social @seiu1199nw.bsky.social to call for SEIU CA President David Huerta's immediate release and an end to ICE raids. Join us for this emergency rally on Monday June 9th at 1:30pm at Boston City Hall.
June 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
We're standing in solidarity with @seiu509.bsky.social @seiu1199nw.bsky.social to call for SEIU CA President David Huerta's immediate release and an end to ICE raids. Join us for this emergency rally on Monday June 9th at 1:30pm at Boston City Hall.
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
Military style ICE raids in our communities. David Huerta was beaten and dragged away.
Because he saw them and stood up for justice. Because he’s not afraid.
Neither are we.
On MONDAY let's #FreeDavidHuerta, #FreeThemAll
11:00 AM @ Grand Park in Downtown LA (200 N Grand Ave)
Because he saw them and stood up for justice. Because he’s not afraid.
Neither are we.
On MONDAY let's #FreeDavidHuerta, #FreeThemAll
11:00 AM @ Grand Park in Downtown LA (200 N Grand Ave)
June 8, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Military style ICE raids in our communities. David Huerta was beaten and dragged away.
Because he saw them and stood up for justice. Because he’s not afraid.
Neither are we.
On MONDAY let's #FreeDavidHuerta, #FreeThemAll
11:00 AM @ Grand Park in Downtown LA (200 N Grand Ave)
Because he saw them and stood up for justice. Because he’s not afraid.
Neither are we.
On MONDAY let's #FreeDavidHuerta, #FreeThemAll
11:00 AM @ Grand Park in Downtown LA (200 N Grand Ave)
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
I was an immigration lawyer for about fifteen years. The people I met… the way they wanted to give their absolute best to this country, and then DID.
Skills, ideas, beauty, culture… that’s what they bring.
America is a nation of immigrants, and immigration is what made America.
Skills, ideas, beauty, culture… that’s what they bring.
America is a nation of immigrants, and immigration is what made America.
June 8, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I was an immigration lawyer for about fifteen years. The people I met… the way they wanted to give their absolute best to this country, and then DID.
Skills, ideas, beauty, culture… that’s what they bring.
America is a nation of immigrants, and immigration is what made America.
Skills, ideas, beauty, culture… that’s what they bring.
America is a nation of immigrants, and immigration is what made America.
The live stream of Good Night, and Good Luck left me reflecting on all of the examples I see of people who are concerned with truth, and who—when they see lies and injustice—act. It’s not easy in fearful times. Friends and communities make it easier.
June 8, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The live stream of Good Night, and Good Luck left me reflecting on all of the examples I see of people who are concerned with truth, and who—when they see lies and injustice—act. It’s not easy in fearful times. Friends and communities make it easier.
What a conglomeration of people on CNN’s post Good Night, and Good Luck. Happy to see Jorge Ramos included!
June 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
What a conglomeration of people on CNN’s post Good Night, and Good Luck. Happy to see Jorge Ramos included!
I’ve started keeping a folder with examples of politicians lying and being deceptive for my book project. The lying from the current presidential administration is overwhelming.
May 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I’ve started keeping a folder with examples of politicians lying and being deceptive for my book project. The lying from the current presidential administration is overwhelming.
Two days now!
You have three days, starting today, to leave a public comment with the FDA about, say, why COVID-19 boosters should remain available to everyone and also free. "Individual consumer" is the category you most likely want (unless you are one of the other categories; if so, choose that).
Regulations.gov
www.regulations.gov
May 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Two days now!
Finally getting around to reading @cjdenial.bsky.social A Pedagogy of Kindness thanks to the wonders of ILL! What a balm.
May 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Finally getting around to reading @cjdenial.bsky.social A Pedagogy of Kindness thanks to the wonders of ILL! What a balm.
Eagerly awaiting the Star Wars series wherein we follow a grad student excavating the buried stories of the rebellion to trouble our understanding of the empire’s fall
May 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Eagerly awaiting the Star Wars series wherein we follow a grad student excavating the buried stories of the rebellion to trouble our understanding of the empire’s fall
Grades are submitted.
I ran one of my seminars with a combination of tutorials and in-class writing for assessment and it worked well.
The students, on the whole, want to learn. They crave conversations—challenging and rich ones. Many want time away from their electronics.
I ran one of my seminars with a combination of tutorials and in-class writing for assessment and it worked well.
The students, on the whole, want to learn. They crave conversations—challenging and rich ones. Many want time away from their electronics.
May 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Grades are submitted.
I ran one of my seminars with a combination of tutorials and in-class writing for assessment and it worked well.
The students, on the whole, want to learn. They crave conversations—challenging and rich ones. Many want time away from their electronics.
I ran one of my seminars with a combination of tutorials and in-class writing for assessment and it worked well.
The students, on the whole, want to learn. They crave conversations—challenging and rich ones. Many want time away from their electronics.
“They don’t even bother to lie badly anymore. I suppose that’s the final humiliation.”
-Andor S2E7 (Dan Gilroy)
-Andor S2E7 (Dan Gilroy)
May 7, 2025 at 1:24 AM
“They don’t even bother to lie badly anymore. I suppose that’s the final humiliation.”
-Andor S2E7 (Dan Gilroy)
-Andor S2E7 (Dan Gilroy)
BostonU signed on
April 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
BostonU signed on
Reposted by Stephanie Ahrens, PhD
