Sign in

Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield

@amyellen.bsky.social
991 followers 723 following 151 posts

Higher Ed policy.

PostsRepliesMedia
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...
spectrumlocalnews.com
Hochul to expand free community college initiative for New Yorkers
Starting in January, New Yorkers ages 25 to 55 can enroll in a SUNY or CUNY associate degree program in a high-demand field for free.
000
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
“There are always people who profit from war or government policies. The difference is that the people profiting should not be the people making the decisions to make that policy. And that is what is happening here...” www.cnn.com/2026/10/01/u...
cnn.com
Jared Kushner’s company has large stake in firm with Israeli military links | CNN
At the same time Jared Kushner has negotiated in the war in Gaza, his company has held the largest stake in a firm backing businesses involved in Israel’s military campaigns.
9624871106
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Damn.
010
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Epic!
000
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I’ll miss her as a senator.
080
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Kate Manne @katemanne.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I wrote for @thecut.com about the Cornell case and what it says that, at my institution and many others like it, protesters are often punished more harshly than sexual assailants www.thecut.com/article/what...
thecut.com
What It Feels Like at Cornell Right Now
As a professor at the Ivy League school, Kate Manne has known many, many victims. There’s a palpable feeling on campus, she writes, that this is big.
521873618
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Lindsey Boylan @lindseyboylan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This man is a monster. He seeks out women survivors because he hates them. And he hates them because he hates himself. He has harassed me and other women survivors many times over the years. It must end. He should never have a job anywhere.
12781202013
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Thank you for confronting him. It’s essential that these folks get called out for their horrible policies.
000
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Sigh.
000
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Kicking people, including hungry kids, off SNAP is something to brag about?
000
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Stephen Nuñez @socio-steve.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Thanks to @donmoyn.bsky.social for giving a platform to Lauren Supplee to highlight this important issue. This is something I wrote about early in the Trump administration when DOGE was running rampant... substack.com/inbox/post/2...
substack.com
The System for Using Evidence to Improve Federal Programs Has Been Gutted
Here’s How We Fix It
14218
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It really is striking how many authoritarian states have ended up in this exact same place, where the leader seizes control of scientific inquiry. Lysenkoism in the Soviet Union, Aryan Physics in the Third Reich, Great Leap Forward (also related to Lysenko) in China.
8527311077
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This. Right here. www.inquirer.com/opinion/viol...
inquirer.com
Violence toward journalists is a symptom of a terminally ill U.S. democracy | Will Bunch
From Trump’s unhinged outbursts to calling the cops on a student journalist, a free press dies in tandem with the American Experiment.
001
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is how it is and how it always has been The for-profits account for a hugely outsized share of student debt and especially loan defaults a community college is always better choice than a for-profit college
33815
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Food Research & Action Center @fracposts.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Nearly 5.5 million people have lost access to SNAP since H.R. 1 was enacted. FRAC is urging Senators to reject a Farm Bill that fails to reverse these devastating cuts and leaves SNAP costs shifts to states in place. Read more: frac.org/news/farmbil...
12923
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Good news! We have more time to fight for our national forests. The Forest Service has extended the public comment period on the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The new deadline is October 6.
252201747
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I can’t wait to read it!
010
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The cost of Trump’s war that he will never talk about.
1041635644
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Katie Bergh @katiebergh.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
SNAP is linked to better math & reading scores, fewer school days missed due to illness & other positive outcomes for children. But well over 1.5 million kids nationwide have lost access to SNAP after unprecedented cuts were enacted last year.
cbpp.org
With School Year Starting, Children’s Participation in SNAP Continues Rapid Decline
While cutting SNAP eligibility for children was not a stated target of the Republican reconciliation law’s proponents, the cost shift and resulting access barriers are causing serious food assistance ...
01913
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Prof Gavin Yamey MD MPH @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Half of kids in America are covered by Medicaid or CHIP The MAHA Administration is instituting massive Medicaid cuts, which will have awful consequences for child health RFK Jr’s first MAHA Report was called “Make Our Children Healthy Again”—but MAHA policies are doing the opposite
46237
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Erika McEntarfer @erikamcentarfer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
This change grants Commerce political appointees veto power over data and research releases by scientists and statisticians at NOAA, NIST, Census, and BEA.
8287186
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
NEWS: DOJ announces new lawsuits against Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington for providing in-state tuition to undocumented students. DOJ says this brings them to 21 suits challenging such tuition.
1616877
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Juan Escalante @juanescalante.com · 24/08/2026
TALLAHASSEE – In one of his first moves as education commissioner, Henry Mack has advanced a rule that would block undocumented students from attending the state’s postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.
yoursun.com
Florida’s education chief moves to block undocumented students from career programs
TALLAHASSEE — In one of his first moves as education commissioner, Henry Mack has advanced a rule that would block undocumented students from attending the state’s postsecondary career and technical
62619
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Insane and inhumane.
000
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Institute for Policy Studies @ips-dc.org · 17/08/2026
NEW: Trump's mass deportation push is costing U.S. taxpayers $2,358 each(!), new research from @epi.org and @nationalpriorities.bsky.social found this month. "I don't think people realize how much money is being spent on these mass deportations."
axios.com
Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each
The projected $268.9 billion could otherwise fund major safety-net programs.
15453204
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13/08/2026
New in PN: Stephen Miller's secret campaign against helpless kids "Miller is making his dreams come true: accelerating the arrest and removal of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant kids. This is a scene taking place out of public view across the country, impacting 24,000 children."
publicnotice.co
Stephen Miller's secret campaign against helpless kids
That it's happening in the shadows doesn't make it less of a moral blight.
32131931728
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Signing a new EO, President Trump suggested falsely that vaccines were linked to autism and that the combined measles, mumps and rubella shot could be lethal, among other claims. Here’s what the evidence actually shows. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/w...
nytimes.com
Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims About Childhood Vaccines After Executive Order (Gift Article)
Mr. Trump signed an executive order on Monday calling to scale back the number of vaccinations American children receive.
1312038
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Adam Cohen (My Personal Views Only) @axidentaliberal.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Bill Cassidy “reluctantly” cast the key vote to make RFK Jr HHS Secretary-because Kennedy promised he wouldn’t do things like this Then-knowing this EO was coming-Cassidy “reluctantly” cast the key vote to make Todd Blanche Attorney General, despite his broken promises on Epstein and the slush fund
40424183
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
people with chronic pain warned us at the time but the criminalization of women and minority people’s pain after the opioid crisis is a public health disaster. I’ve had friends denied pain management after hysterectomies, dental extractions and broken bones.
332924851
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Miranda Yaver @mirandayaver.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
SNAP has an outstanding ROI: every dollar we invest in SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity. With SNAP cuts, people can’t continue to support these local grocers, so local businesses suffer. Everyone loses.
4928861091
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Trump‘s new CDC Director said “abortion surveillance” will be a big part of the CDC‘s role… Republicans will never stop. Never.
78803410
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 07/08/2026
This is the last race I was tracking, so of the 12 clergy, former clergy and seminarians who ran for Congress this year as Dems, 8 became nominees/won their primaries — and among those who lost was a UMC minister who was *beaten by a Presbyterian minister.* Pretty high intra-party success rate.
623544
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Mike Luckovich @mluckovich.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
261653619
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
ICYMI: We looked at Sen. Durbin's 25-year quest to pass the Dream Act to allow immigrants who came to the U.S. as kids become citizens. There's a lot to unpack, but one question I kept coming to is: What does it mean to achieve success in politics? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/02/d...
chicagotribune.com
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin’s quarter-century fight for the DREAM Act remains illusory, but its effects are real
With less than six months left in his legislative career, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is coming to terms with the idea that the DREAM Act — what he describes as his “most important” piece of legislation — w...
121
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Joan Alker @joanalker1.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A must read - a preview of what’s to come en masse when Medicaid work reporting requirements start nationwide. A pregnant woman loses coverage by mistake.. long waits lines for the call center.. People are scared. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...
nebraskapublicmedia.org
Nebraska becomes first state to disenroll Medicaid recipients under new work requirements
The first work requirement-related disenrollments begin in Nebraska on Saturday. While the state Medicaid director estimates this will impact 200 Nebraskans, advocates are concerned that the number wi...
01621
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Documented @documentedny.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
This guide can help you understand how to ask for free interpretation services at City agencies, housing applications and medical facilities.
documentedny.com
Language Assistance Options for Immigrants in New York City
This guide can help you understand how to ask for free interpretation services at City agencies, housing applications and medical facilities.
012
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I live down the street from the hospital in the picture (Brooklyn Hospital) and saw the mobile morgue in person, being filled, day after day after day. Don’t gaslight me RFK Jr.
040
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
As the UN Secy General says, the Euro wildfires are just an opening act to the El Nino bearing down on planet earth. It's time for smart politicians to stop climate hushing and start getting ahead of the heat. open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
open.substack.com
High Heat, High Drama
Europe is starting to provide some answers about the next step in the climate fight
9304113
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Bryce Covert @brycecovert.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
A scoop from me: The Trump administration is about to release a proposed rule that would gut most of the quality standards that define Head Start while blocking undocumented immigrants from enrolling their kids www.thenation.com/article/soci...
thenation.com
A New Trump Rule Would Lower Standards at Head Start and Exclude Immigrants From the Program
The Trump administration is on the verge of releasing a proposed rule that would eliminate crucial quality standards at the nation’s preschool program for low-income children.
9153115
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Crazy and inhumane
000
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Debra Wexler @debrawexler.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
What do you know? If you raise the minimum wage, earnings go up for the folks who most need a boost. And the adverse impact to employment is minimal. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
A Minimum Wage Natural Experiment Has Been Running for Over a Decade
When 30 States Raised Minimum Wages, What Happened to Pay and Jobs?
0177
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Yes, please.
020
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
I've seen Marc Caputo's internally inconsistent story — though he leads with the "It's dead for now" quote, he later says nothing's final until announced and quotes someone as saying "nothing is final until it's final" — so I'll read it more as, "Some WH folks realize this is a no-go in Congress."
axios.com
Scoop: Trump plans to drop "weaponization" fund
Trump's proposal has drawn bipartisan pushback in the GOP-led House and Senate.
17541112
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Ossoff: This is what small men like Donald Trump and JD Vance and Stephen Miller will never understand—that our national greatness flows not through our blood or our genes, but through our ideas.
14576691958
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Nah
000
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Senator Patty Murray @murray.senate.gov · 20/05/2026
So if you or I cheat on our taxes, we could spend time behind bars. But if Trump... or his kids... or his businesses cheat on their taxes, the law doesn't apply. This is insane & beyond corrupt. DOJ works for the American people, NOT Donald Trump.
cnn.com
New settlement term bars IRS from investigating Trump, his family for past tax issues | CNN Politics
The Internal Revenue Service can’t bring claims against President Donald Trump, his family or businesses for past tax issues, according to additional terms added Tuesday to the settlement the Justice ...
45479173
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
You mean a driver has plowed into pedestrians. A car does not drive itself or crash into people without a driver.
131
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
The Tennessee Speaker of the House will remove all Democratic Caucus members from standing committees and subcommittees as punishment for their redistricting protests. Democracy dies in Nashville.
19635941786
Reposted by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Kate Riga @kateriga.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Microcosm of the horror of this post-Callais moment: the Mississippi House plans to hold its redistricting session in the Old Capitol where they seceded & instituted Jim Crow. They'll meet there aiming to erase Bennie Thompson's district — the one majority-Black district in a state that's ~40% Black
211026419
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield @amyellen.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Out west? Cheyenne or Denver??
010