Tag Archives: politics

Ruth Ben-Ghiat: “Never underestimate the American people”

Posted on November 6, 2025 by gdkrenz

This evening Barb and I attended the University of Michigan’s annual Davis, Markert, Nickerson Lecture on Academic and Intellectual Freedom. This is, as far as I know, the nation’s longest running lecture (35 years) dedicated to academic and intellectual freedom … Continue reading →

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Tonight, Americans’ democratic values spoke loud and clear

Posted on November 5, 2025 by gdkrenz

Tonight’s exhilarating election results were a large-D Democratic sweep that was also a small-d democratic victory. Democrats won the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey and the mayorship of New York City by getting out and connecting with the people … Continue reading →

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No Excuses for Greed and Selfishness

Posted on November 4, 2025 by barbkrenz

On Morning Joe today, they were talking about news companies appeasing Trump.  As Mike Barnacle put it, “the blanket of fear” that President Trump has spread over everything, including the media, “is the largest story of our times.” Then Joe … Continue reading →

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No, Spkr Johnson: “No Kings” IS “Love America”

Posted on October 13, 2025 by gdkrenz

We Americans love to label things, no doubt. And labeling things can be important in politics. Labels can give us a shorthand, and they can serve as rallying cries. At this point, we can’t for instance any longer avoid calling … Continue reading →

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Higher ed solidarity, please!

Posted on October 8, 2025 by gdkrenz

Last week, the Trump administration sent to nine universities A Compact for Excellence in Higher Education, the idea being that institutions that sign on to the compact would receive “preferential access to federal funds.” This is the latest effort by … Continue reading →

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Whispering in the Storm

Posted on October 3, 2025 by gdkrenz

The daily nightmares continue. There are reasons for hope – more on that another time. But there continue to be reasons to fear, perhaps most significant among them is that the more Trump feels cornered, the more desperate his actions … Continue reading →

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Grounds for impeachment

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Daniel Little

In his speech to the top officers of the United States military Donald Trump has crossed the line from reckless right-wing authoritarian politician to aspiring fascist dictator. Here are some crucial excerpts from Amy Wang’s reporting at the Washington Post. … Continue reading →

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“Cry ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war”

Posted on September 12, 2025 by gdkrenz

I’ve been trying to think about what to say about Charlie Kirk’s murder. The internet is overflowing with reaction and commentary, some of it good, much of it not. As I try to digest the murder itself and its larger … Continue reading →

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Dan Little on inclusive multicultural democracy

Posted on September 8, 2025 by gdkrenz

Our friend and fellow blogger Dan Little has a wonderful academic blog, Understanding Society, that deals with issues “in philosophy of social science and the workings of the social world.” Dan is a very clear expositor of philosophical ideas, and … Continue reading →

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Higher education, quo vadis?

Posted on September 4, 2025 by gdkrenz

Two discouraging but one very hopeful story about Trump’s and Trumpists’ higher ed attacks. Let’s do the bad news first. First, Michael Schill, the president of Northwestern (my alma mater), announced today that he is resigning, following tremendous pressure from … Continue reading →

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