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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 10h

The persecution of Rep. Omar is making her a sympathetic figure—even to those of us who profoundly disagree with her.

amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Need something new to get mad about? I’ve got you covered. We NEED this research. I explain why in the video and linked article below.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Trying something new! Here’s a short video about the article I wrote on why funding social science research is important. Here’s a link to the article, give it a read and maybe subscribe--it's mostly about vice presidents. It's fun, informative, and FREE! aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Long and short — a PhD doesn’t pay!

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

The NSF has eliminated funding for social science. This is a huge mistake and will cost the U.S. and really the world dearly. I wrote about this last week and I’ll keep repeating it: social science is just as essential as the other sciences. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Just a fantastic thread on the literary richness of Watership Down! Thank you @snufkinlib.bsky.social!

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Women should be a much bigger part of the AI conversation. I think this dovetails with my post on why we shouldn't cut NSF funding for social sciences. If we want the best AI, we really need to understand people and how they will use and interact with it. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

aaronmannes.substack.com

Cutting Social Science When We Need It More Than Ever

Throwback Thursday

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The administration is eviscerating funding for social science research at the NSF. The social sciences may get a bad rap, but as I explain in today’s post, if you want the best technology you are going to need social science. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

In theory there may be people who obsess over “Zionists” controlling American politics who aren’t anti-Semites but at this point I pretty much assume anyone speaking this way is one step away at best from going full ZOG.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Re-upped an older piece and fleshed out my thoughts on why cutting social science is such a bad idea! aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

aaronmannes.substack.com

Cutting Social Science When We Need It More Than Ever

Throwback Thursday

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The Trump administration is cutting funding for social science research funding. BAD IDEA! If we want the best AI, we need good social science to make sure the technology works for people. And what’s with the retro science fiction image—well read on! aaronmannes.substack.com/p/cutting-so...

aaronmannes.substack.com

Cutting Social Science When We Need It More Than Ever

Throwback Thursday

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

LBJ knew wiretapping that touched in Nixon was a hard red line and he couldn’t use the info gathered. Ironic, huh?

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Brazil’s VP isn't much of a factor in the upcoming run-off elections. This was no surprise. The surprise was that Brazil’s President brought him into the government and made him a partner. Most presidents worldwide, don’t! Why was this time different? aaronmannes.substack.com/p/the-future...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Since a lot of people liked this, allow me some shameless self-promotion. Check out my substack, which is mostly about vice presidents (I'm one of the world's top experts!) But tomorrow I'll post on science policy. Anyway, it's fun and free! aaronmannes.substack.com

aaronmannes.substack.com

Down the Hall: The VP Weekly | Aaron Mannes | Substack

All about vice presidents (and comparable positions) past, present, and future here in the U.S. and around the world. Click to read Down the Hall: The VP Weekly, by Aaron Mannes, a Substack publicatio...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Unlike most other presidents in Brazil (or anywhere really), Lula has built a strong relationship with his VP—like the best POTUS-VP partnerships. Does it matter for the election: not really. But it could matter for Brazil’s future. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/the-future...

aaronmannes.substack.com

The Future of Brazil Hangs in Balance: Does the Vice President Matter?

A Vice President that matters and a challenger that’s a chump!

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In my own modest government career I worked a bit on AI policy. My obsession was pushing for research into the social science of AI in parallel to technical research. I argued: If we wanted good AI we need to understand how people build, use, and affected by AI? 2/fini www.nitrd.gov/pubs/Nationa...

nitrd.gov

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The administration has killed social science funding at NSF. This is awful. So many critical problems have a human element. Creating a vaccine is a life sciences problem. Getting people to take a vaccine is a social science problem. This example was cited long before Covid btw! 1/x

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Some of us eagerly await this! A valuable addition to the very modest library of great works of Veepology!

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Enjoying my Sukkah for last time this season—I ponder the place of this joyous holiday, in the Jewish calendar. It follows the intense Days of Awe, in which we face up to our mortality and failings and repent. Sukkot is a relief and a reward. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/ecclesiast...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It is the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, a celebration of the harvest festival and of life. It is a time of joy. And yet, on this happiest of holidays we read the melancholy Ecclesiastes—why? My thoughts here. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/ecclesiast...

aaronmannes.substack.com

Ecclesiastes as Balm in a Troubled Time

Throwback Thursday

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

For context on the Trump-XI summit, we’ve done a deep dive into VPs and China. In part 2 we look at Mondale, Bush, and Gore—the last quarter of the 20th century. Engagement with China deepened, with the U.S. striving to make and keep things friendly. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/when-veeps...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This is such great and important news. Thanks Marco!

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think you could argue that the U.S. is the least bad great power of all time. But that's like grading on a curve in a calculus class where the average is 32 and the best grade is 47.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

You don't often see a U.S. Senator get completely owned on live TV, that's what just happened to MO Sen. Eric Schmitt. @donmoyn.bsky.social has an excellent explainer of this epic self-own.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Like the Holy Roman Empire—it is neither super nor intelligent.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

People of NY seemed to like HRC just fine. Elected her twice. I think they get to decide who is a NYer. Not random pundits.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Looking at VPs and China (in the wake of Trump-Xi summit). As VP Nixon saw the need to establish relations with China. VP Agnew could’ve derailed the effort. More coming: next post will look at VPs Bush through Gore, when hopes were high for Chinese reform. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/when-veeps...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

After last week’s Trump-Xi summit, I thought it would be neat to look at vice presidents and China. There’s a lot going on. Part one of three, this post looks at the Nixon and Agnew approaches to China. Talk about a study in contrasts. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/when-veeps...

aaronmannes.substack.com

When Veeps Go To China

Part 1 of 3 on U.S. Vice Presidents and Sino-American Relations

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Calvin Coolidge would like a word.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Our tax dollars paid for this!?!?!?!?! Fuck.

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Melissa Kutner @melissannbee.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Nah, I think the antihero thing was a highbrow phenomenon across the board. Which is worth thinking about in its own right. Breaking Bad’s viewership was not impressive until the very end and even then it was still only like half of NCIS’s in the same period.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And some habitable but empty earths that would set off scrambles between powers in this dimensions. Also parallel universes in which a different type of intelligence evolved.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We’ve got some big stuff coming soon on vice presidents and China (Sino-Veepology)! In the meantime yesterday’s Throwback Thursday on South Sudan is timely—as that nation may be heading back into civil war—and illustrates why we study the Veep! aaronmannes.substack.com/p/south-suda...

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

While all eyes are on Trump-Xi or Iran—the President of South Sudan just dismissed the government and all of the country’s vice presidents. So for Throwback Thursday, I’m re-upping a post on how that country’s multiple VPs reflect their troubled politics. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/south-suda...

aaronmannes.substack.com

South Sudan's Game of Veeps

Throwback Thursday

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Jay Rayner @jayrayner1.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On the BBC News Katya Adler has just described Germany, where the far right AFD keep winning elections, as entering 'uncharted political territory'. Hmmm. Where Germany is concerned I think that territory is pretty well charted.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Good luck with that. Horse, barn door, etc.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Shouldn't he be busy losing wars and mid-terms and stuff?

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This whole thread on regulating AI, by the excellent and insightful @faineg.com! We need to junk the existential thinking both by AI advocates AND doomers, and focus on the real need for focused and technically informed safety and security regulations, practices, and standards.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

There is a gap between the risk perception of experts and the public, particularly w/poorly understood and unpredictable things—like new tech. Usually experts ignore public concerns or try to address them. Now AI experts are playing up the deepest fears. Why? aaronmannes.substack.com/p/are-we-all...

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Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

What would you like to hold for your portrait? Maybe a little bird? Perhaps a cup-and-ball? A wee drum? No. Fetch my sword. (American, 1841, attributed to Henry Inman) www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2399684...

portrait of a young child (maybe 3 years old) in a burgundy dress, drawing a sword longer than its legs

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Imagine candy industry executives saying they needed to be stopped, their candy was too good and would destroy everyone's health? Crazy, right? But that’s what some AI leaders are doing. We have some research that sheds light on this weirdness. aaronmannes.substack.com/p/are-we-all...

aaronmannes.substack.com

Are we all gonna die? AI Risk and Risk Perception

A Techy Throwback Thursday

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Josh Fruhlinger @jfruh.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

new comics curmudgeon post! joshreads.com/2026/0... MEANWHILE, someone is heaping praise on Mary Worth, right now, and there's nothing you can do about it

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I am here for all of your VP content needs.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Fair enough, although I thought we were pretty steadily losing control over rural Afghanistan in the years leading up to withdrawal.

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Well, that's a lot of likes! If anyone wants more of my musings--which build on my combined academic background (PhD in Public Policy) and government time, you subscribe to my substack. It's mostly, but not exclusively, about vice presidents. It's informative, fun, and free! aaronmannes.substack.com

aaronmannes.substack.com

Down the Hall: The VP Weekly | Aaron Mannes | Substack

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amannes.bsky.social @amannes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I was a Federal contractor for a decade, so I can confirm all of this. I’d add, most contractors make salaries comparable to federal employees. Someone is getting all the sweet perks. But not anyone I knew.

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