Thomas Scherer
@tlscherer.bsky.social
Research Director for fp21.org; setting a new standard for evidence and integrity in foreign policy. Now accepting article pitches and fellow applications. Loves conflict data, D&D, USWNT. he/him
I had to repeatedly check that this wasn't The Onion
Open the page. Scroll down to the timeline. Go through the timeline.
It’s… shocking
It’s… shocking
The White House Building
Every president since John Adams has occupied the White House, and the history of this building extends far beyond the construction of its walls. From the Ground Floor Corridor rooms, transformed from...
www.whitehouse.gov
October 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I had to repeatedly check that this wasn't The Onion
For the record, having the wrong answer to the right question is worth zero points.
October 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
For the record, having the wrong answer to the right question is worth zero points.
"too much theory without enough experimentation can cause bloating and gassiness in the scientific literature"
October 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"too much theory without enough experimentation can cause bloating and gassiness in the scientific literature"
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
The problem here is shitty science.
You can find "evidence" for all of the above, just like RFK's study linking Tylenol to autism.
But then the argument shifts to things like causal inference, p-hacking, lousy study design, and everyone's bored and goes home.
And keeps believing this stuff.
You can find "evidence" for all of the above, just like RFK's study linking Tylenol to autism.
But then the argument shifts to things like causal inference, p-hacking, lousy study design, and everyone's bored and goes home.
And keeps believing this stuff.
October 2, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The problem here is shitty science.
You can find "evidence" for all of the above, just like RFK's study linking Tylenol to autism.
But then the argument shifts to things like causal inference, p-hacking, lousy study design, and everyone's bored and goes home.
And keeps believing this stuff.
You can find "evidence" for all of the above, just like RFK's study linking Tylenol to autism.
But then the argument shifts to things like causal inference, p-hacking, lousy study design, and everyone's bored and goes home.
And keeps believing this stuff.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Once again, I am begging Wisconsin journalists to about DEI in standalone block quotes in articles.
Maybe you could even ask him for even example of even DEI program like this on even UW campus? 🤷♂️
www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...
Maybe you could even ask him for even
www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...
December 9, 2023 at 6:33 PM
Once again, I am begging Wisconsin journalists to about DEI in standalone block quotes in articles.
Maybe you could even ask him for even example of even DEI program like this on even UW campus? 🤷♂️
www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...
Maybe you could even ask him for even
www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Don't. Print. Lies. In. The. Newspapers.
This is just a slightly politer version of the lies Robin Vos spreads about UW all the time (bsky.app/profile/mcop...). It's ugly. It's not true. Nor are the grants lies true. Frankly, it's all obscene given the authoritarian assault now on 🇺🇸 higher ed.
This is just a slightly politer version of the lies Robin Vos spreads about UW all the time (bsky.app/profile/mcop...). It's ugly. It's not true. Nor are the grants lies true. Frankly, it's all obscene given the authoritarian assault now on 🇺🇸 higher ed.
September 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Don't. Print. Lies. In. The. Newspapers.
This is just a slightly politer version of the lies Robin Vos spreads about UW all the time (bsky.app/profile/mcop...). It's ugly. It's not true. Nor are the grants lies true. Frankly, it's all obscene given the authoritarian assault now on 🇺🇸 higher ed.
This is just a slightly politer version of the lies Robin Vos spreads about UW all the time (bsky.app/profile/mcop...). It's ugly. It's not true. Nor are the grants lies true. Frankly, it's all obscene given the authoritarian assault now on 🇺🇸 higher ed.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
If you want a totally "unchecked situation" about federal grants, it's that One Mad King can now simply cancel federal contracts funding area and language studies at universities around the country, without cause, while Congress does nothing. But that doesn't sell copy, so here are lies instead.
Here we go. of all IFLE funding. No FLAS fellowships or NRC area studies centers nationwide.
Might be nice of even a single university president was willing to speak up about this disaster for R1 universities & their students.
democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
Might be nice of even a single university president was willing to speak up about this disaster for R1 universities & their students.
democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
September 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
If you want a totally "unchecked situation" about federal grants, it's that One Mad King can now simply cancel federal contracts funding area and language studies at universities around the country, without cause, while Congress does nothing. But that doesn't sell copy, so here are lies instead.
Rex Douglass is a free agent. Rex is a data bulldozer and champion of science, plus no bs palantir overhead. Get him before he gets got.
September 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Rex Douglass is a free agent. Rex is a data bulldozer and champion of science, plus no bs palantir overhead. Get him before he gets got.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Putting aside the researchers' inability to identify acts of state terrorism, the number they're using to justify this subhed is five.
September 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Putting aside the researchers' inability to identify acts of state terrorism, the number they're using to justify this subhed is five.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
This WaPo piece about the Airbnb/DOGE guy who is now the head of design in government ignores that:
*DOGE fired the actual talented design people in government, including Social Security!
*IRS had a beautifully designed tax filing system that DOGE killed
*USDS already did online passport renewals
*DOGE fired the actual talented design people in government, including Social Security!
*IRS had a beautifully designed tax filing system that DOGE killed
*USDS already did online passport renewals
August 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This WaPo piece about the Airbnb/DOGE guy who is now the head of design in government ignores that:
*DOGE fired the actual talented design people in government, including Social Security!
*IRS had a beautifully designed tax filing system that DOGE killed
*USDS already did online passport renewals
*DOGE fired the actual talented design people in government, including Social Security!
*IRS had a beautifully designed tax filing system that DOGE killed
*USDS already did online passport renewals
Hey @lanostry.bsky.social, we made the big time!
August 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Hey @lanostry.bsky.social, we made the big time!
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
gotta keep an eye on those obelisks, you just never know
August 13, 2025 at 12:48 AM
gotta keep an eye on those obelisks, you just never know
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Also, 30,000 fake papers out of 1 million+ does not indict or threaten science as a whole. This entire "science is in crisis from within" narrative is a right-wing myth.
August 6, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Also, 30,000 fake papers out of 1 million+ does not indict or threaten science as a whole. This entire "science is in crisis from within" narrative is a right-wing myth.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Throughout my timeline I see academic friends despairing about Columbia capitulating to Trump's authoritarianism. Sadly, it will likely not be the last.
I hope you all can direct your outrage into action. Use your voice, especially if you can leverage the privilege of tenure, but also your skills.
I hope you all can direct your outrage into action. Use your voice, especially if you can leverage the privilege of tenure, but also your skills.
July 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Throughout my timeline I see academic friends despairing about Columbia capitulating to Trump's authoritarianism. Sadly, it will likely not be the last.
I hope you all can direct your outrage into action. Use your voice, especially if you can leverage the privilege of tenure, but also your skills.
I hope you all can direct your outrage into action. Use your voice, especially if you can leverage the privilege of tenure, but also your skills.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Thiel's DOGEbuddies have shredded the NSF and NIH.
Anyone want to take bets on whether that INCREASES or DECREASES the rate of scientific progress?
Because I'll gladly take your fucking money and laugh in your face if you think the events of 2025 have been GOOD for scientific progress. Dumbshit.
Anyone want to take bets on whether that INCREASES or DECREASES the rate of scientific progress?
Because I'll gladly take your fucking money and laugh in your face if you think the events of 2025 have been GOOD for scientific progress. Dumbshit.
June 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Thiel's DOGEbuddies have shredded the NSF and NIH.
Anyone want to take bets on whether that INCREASES or DECREASES the rate of scientific progress?
Because I'll gladly take your fucking money and laugh in your face if you think the events of 2025 have been GOOD for scientific progress. Dumbshit.
Anyone want to take bets on whether that INCREASES or DECREASES the rate of scientific progress?
Because I'll gladly take your fucking money and laugh in your face if you think the events of 2025 have been GOOD for scientific progress. Dumbshit.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
this is a sabotage tactic so cartoonishly transparent that paul rudd’s character tried it during his guest arc on parks and recreation
Having one of the richest people in America (Bloomberg) funding millions of dollars in ads bashing you really matters. Rich people promising to cut jobs from New York if you win also hurts. www.thefp.com/p/escape-fro...
June 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
this is a sabotage tactic so cartoonishly transparent that paul rudd’s character tried it during his guest arc on parks and recreation
Conflict research relies on questionable data. Rachel Sweet's recent JCR article proposes a systematic and deliberate process to review data. It persuaded me that grappling with data quality is both the right thing to do AND opens up new avenues for research! 🗺
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Knowing What We Don’t: The Fundamental Problem of Data Quality in Conflict Research—and Methodological Solutions - Rachel Sweet, 2025
Conflict researchers face an unresolved dilemma: the underlying data are often unreliable. When it comes to covert relationships, killings, and illicit markets ...
journals.sagepub.com
June 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Conflict research relies on questionable data. Rachel Sweet's recent JCR article proposes a systematic and deliberate process to review data. It persuaded me that grappling with data quality is both the right thing to do AND opens up new avenues for research! 🗺
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
This is the functional equivalent of saying it’s not a bribe unless it’s from the Bribery region of France; otherwise it’s just sparkling pay-to-play
it's a nonsense argument that has been embraced by the Supreme Court and undermines the public good
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/snyde...
it's a nonsense argument that has been embraced by the Supreme Court and undermines the public good
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/snyde...
May 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This is the functional equivalent of saying it’s not a bribe unless it’s from the Bribery region of France; otherwise it’s just sparkling pay-to-play
it's a nonsense argument that has been embraced by the Supreme Court and undermines the public good
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/snyde...
it's a nonsense argument that has been embraced by the Supreme Court and undermines the public good
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/snyde...
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist at Harvard Medical School, was detained at Logan Airport after returning from France and sent to an ICE detention in Louisiana, The Insider reports.
A big critic of Putin and the war in Ukraine, she may now be deported to Russia.
A big critic of Putin and the war in Ukraine, she may now be deported to Russia.
March 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist at Harvard Medical School, was detained at Logan Airport after returning from France and sent to an ICE detention in Louisiana, The Insider reports.
A big critic of Putin and the war in Ukraine, she may now be deported to Russia.
A big critic of Putin and the war in Ukraine, she may now be deported to Russia.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Here is UW - Madison's budget. Our <largest> funder is the federal government. 25%. It used to be the state. Either way, the university in its current form ceases to exist if these federal cuts really happen. But The. Public. Doesn't. Know. This. And our leaders are absent from the public debate.
March 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Here is UW - Madison's budget. Our <largest> funder is the federal government. 25%. It used to be the state. Either way, the university in its current form ceases to exist if these federal cuts really happen. But The. Public. Doesn't. Know. This. And our leaders are absent from the public debate.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Did you know there is a primary election on February 18th? The one race on all of your ballots will be for State DPI Superintendent, in addition to some local races depending where you live.
In-person absentee voting begins TODAY! Check with your local clerk for details, or visit myvote.wi.gov!
In-person absentee voting begins TODAY! Check with your local clerk for details, or visit myvote.wi.gov!
Home
myvote.wi.gov
February 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Did you know there is a primary election on February 18th? The one race on all of your ballots will be for State DPI Superintendent, in addition to some local races depending where you live.
In-person absentee voting begins TODAY! Check with your local clerk for details, or visit myvote.wi.gov!
In-person absentee voting begins TODAY! Check with your local clerk for details, or visit myvote.wi.gov!
#Wisconsin Senators #RonJohnson and #TammyBaldwin have long supported having strong Inspectors General for government accountability.
Here Sen. Johnson explains, "They are our go-to folks when it comes to government oversight."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFw1...
Here Sen. Johnson explains, "They are our go-to folks when it comes to government oversight."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFw1...
IG Act 40: Senator Ron Johnson
YouTube video by Council of the IGs on Integrity & Efficiency CIGIE
www.youtube.com
January 25, 2025 at 6:06 AM
#Wisconsin Senators #RonJohnson and #TammyBaldwin have long supported having strong Inspectors General for government accountability.
Here Sen. Johnson explains, "They are our go-to folks when it comes to government oversight."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFw1...
Here Sen. Johnson explains, "They are our go-to folks when it comes to government oversight."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFw1...
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
🧪 Several folks have asked me what I (not an MD, but someone with extensive training in zoonotic diseases and work experience in pandemic prevention) recommend in this particular era.
It is: Vaccination. Esp for respiratory diseases.
Titers/boosters for your MMRs.
Hand washing.
Masks.
It is: Vaccination. Esp for respiratory diseases.
Titers/boosters for your MMRs.
Hand washing.
Masks.
January 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
🧪 Several folks have asked me what I (not an MD, but someone with extensive training in zoonotic diseases and work experience in pandemic prevention) recommend in this particular era.
It is: Vaccination. Esp for respiratory diseases.
Titers/boosters for your MMRs.
Hand washing.
Masks.
It is: Vaccination. Esp for respiratory diseases.
Titers/boosters for your MMRs.
Hand washing.
Masks.
Reposted by Thomas Scherer
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
propub.li/3DGXECO
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
propub.li/3DGXECO
The Militia and the Mole
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias. He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was a ProPublica reporter.
propub.li
January 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
propub.li/3DGXECO
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
propub.li/3DGXECO
A reminder that Gorka's dissertation uses the following "Venn diagram-like approach" to help explain the dynamics of terrorism.
November 27, 2024 at 3:17 PM
A reminder that Gorka's dissertation uses the following "Venn diagram-like approach" to help explain the dynamics of terrorism.