iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Jamila Michener @povertyscholar.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

In Chicago today for the Cafferty Lecture @ the UChicago Crown School. Looking forward to an insightful discussion w/ @awhf.bsky.social & other brilliant folks. We'll be talking social policy, power, organizing & democracy. Come through if you are in the Chi! crownschool.uchicago.edu/news-events/...

crownschool.uchicago.edu

Cafferty Lecture: Safeguarding a Safety Net in Crisis: Building Durable Power Through Policy Design

Image As part of the Empowering Democracy Initiative, this public panel brings together experts, practitioners, and advocates to discuss how social programs can politically empower, rather than burden...

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JS Tan @js-tan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We're in @wired.com this morning with an excerpt from our book AGAINST TECH OLIGARCHY. Check it out- this excerpts goes into how tech worker activism and class struggle within the sector was one of the key factors in pushing tech elites to Trump and the MAGA right.

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Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I wrote this because most journalists facing this pressure can’t. The paper we count on to check authoritarianism spiked an investigation into the Democratic Party because the party’s lawyers threatened to sue. Holding authoritarians accountable starts with holding your own side accountable.

data4democracy.substack.com

With Fear and Favor

Institutions don’t have courage. They have incentives.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Speakers include: Mary Beech (Workshop), @alexsjacquez.bsky.social (Groundwork), @michelleimiller.bsky.social (Harvard CLJE), @aijenpoo.bsky.social (NDWA), Crystal Weise (AFL-CIO Tech Institute), and Jen Klein

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

📢 TOMORROW! Join a @columbiaigp.bsky.social webinar joint with Workshop to understand what American workers think about AI and what they want from policy. Featuring a fantastic lineup from Workshop, @groundwork.bsky.social, @cljeharvard.bsky.social, @domesticworkers.bsky.social, @aflcio.org!

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Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Thread. I'm so pleased and honored to have been able to contribute in a small way to this project.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

(And please share your paper -- it sounds super relevant!!)

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

too soon to know if Magyar's hardball will remain legitimate in the eyes of the public. We also think history offers good examples too, especially the case of Reconstruction that we cite, and have learned a lot from David Bateman's work here. Thank you again for your thoughtful reactions! 5/5

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

coming soon -- stay tuned). Definitely agree the case of Hungary is an interesting test example of whether a democratic rebuilder can deconstruct the sources of authoritarian power in ways that are legitimate, even if norm-breaking. We're also watching really closely -- as Scheppele notes, it's 4/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The same is true for enforcement capacity: the decision to enforce or not particular laws already on the books has enormous power consequences. We think our framework offers a better guide across different agencies and statutes for how to direct enforcement energies (and have a paper on this 3/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

e.g. the choice NOT to include a patient's union in the Affordable Care Act had big implications for collective representation of patients. We think our criteria are more normatively defensible than ignoring it all together, but welcome a discussion about the risks and trade-offs! 2/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Thanks for these reactions! A couple thoughts: A key argument we're making is that all policy already has power consequences, whether folks intend for it to or not; we're arguing that policymakers should be more principled in how they're approaching those consequences. 1/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We've been doing a lot of this work in partnership with colleagues, including @rooseveltinstitute.org and Workshop, and have more research in the progress. If you're interested in joining us or learning more, reach out! democracyempowered.org 6/6

democracyempowered.org

Empowering Democracy Initiative | People, Power, Policy

The Empowering Democracy Initiative works to rebuild the federal government to buttress a more resilient, multiracial, and inclusive democracy.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Work from @profsorelle.bsky.social also shows that we have clear evidence about policy designs that build durable, collective power through movement groups, such as facilitating membership in tenant unions or labor unions, supporting dues collection, and protections against retaliation. 5/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The research and writing we've been commissioning offers concrete lessons--including the costs of NOT considering power. (@sbagen.bsky.social's piece examining the failure to consider power in the Medicare program is a great example of this: democracyempowered.org/documents/Ba...). 4/

democracyempowered.org

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The way we've been thinking about it, policy reformers need to think about power-shifting impacts of agencies and programs in the same way as it is second-nature to reach for economic benefit-cost analysis. How are we building pro democracy power? How are we deconstructing anti-democracy power? 3/

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We've been commissioning research from folks like @sbagen.bsky.social, @povertyscholar.bsky.social, @profsorelle.bsky.social, and others to understand concretely how federal rebuilders should focus on shifting power. Their (awesome) work is available here: democracyempowered.org/reports.html 2/

democracyempowered.org

Reports & Documents | Empowering Democracy Initiative

Browse white papers, policy briefs, and research reports from the Empowering Democracy Initiative.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Over the past year, Sam Berger, Sophie Jacobson, and I have been thinking about how a federal rebuilding must center power-shifting, building civil society power for democracy. In @donmoyn.bsky.social's Substack we wrote up our lessons; we're excited to share what we're learning! 1/

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Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I remember seeing someone (very reasonably) complaining here a few days ago that there seems to be next to no visible thinking on left and center about how to join the dots on administration and democracy. This is the beginnings of an answer to that complaint donmoynihan.substack.com/p/rebuilding...

donmoynihan.substack.com

Rebuilding Democracy Requires Rebalancing Power

What does a power-shifting agenda look like?

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Join us for the second day of our annual @cape-team.bsky.social research conference, starting today at noon!

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Could not agree more with @ryanenos.bsky.social. Columbia has lost so much credibility in the eyes of its faculty, students, and staff and is still at the whims of Trump. According to CU's climate survey, >80%of employees feel the university is not aligned with professional and ethical values.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Our annual @cape-team.bsky.social research conference on American Political Economy starts today at noon! Come join us for a discussion on new frontiers in APE scholarship, climate politics, and identity and symbolic politics and its intersection with political economy!

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Excited to moderate this joint @columbiaigp.bsky.social + Workshop webinar with a great panel of folks to understand what Americans are thinking about AI policy amidst all of the debates about AI's impact on our economy and communities. Tune in live here August 5th at noon!

youtube.com

What Do American Workers Want from AI Policy?

YouTube video by Columbia SIPA

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Columbia Institute of Global Politics @columbiaigp.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

How are American workers thinking about AI, & what do they want from AI policy? Tune in to this Columbia IGP webinar on August 5 @ 12pm ET: youtube.com/live/xcuyP9z... Speakers: Mary Beech, @alexsjacquez.bsky.social, @michelleimiller.bsky.social, @aijenpoo.bsky.social, @awhf.bsky.social, Jen Klein

youtube.com

What Do American Workers Want from AI Policy?

YouTube video by Columbia SIPA

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

@ksabeelrahman.bsky.social, @rmabud.bsky.social, Jamie and I argue that a corruption rebate could help drive an accountability agenda while also offering concrete material benefits to the public. As we put it, "It is a basic American principle that you cannot keep what you stole."

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Trump, his family, and his administration has been unprecedentedly corrupt. 2028 candidates should respond by pledging to return the money to the American people as a corruption rebate. Sabeel Rahman, Jamie Keene, Rakeen Mabud, and I flesh out the idea for @bharatramamurti.bsky.social's Substack.

bharatramamurti.substack.com

Guest Post: Americans Are Owed a Trump Corruption Rebate

In his second term, President Trump has illegally accepted a $400 million Boeing 747 from the government of Qatar.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 10/07/2026

really think that if democrats hold any chamber of congress next year that a condition of passing a budget is the removal of russ vought, who has a genuinely tyrannical vision of presidential power and is a focal point of the lawlessness of the trump administration

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Phil Rocco @philiprocco.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

In the last century, there has never been an attack on the whole edifice of federal fiscal policy this severe. The reason is that all of them have presumed to rely *on Congress to pass a bill*. Automatic sunsets (60s), block grants (70s), budget cuts (80s) all crashed on these shoals.

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Roosevelt Institute @rooseveltinstitute.org · 09/07/2026

Gig companies have long argued that classifying workers as independent contractors is the only way to preserve flexibility. A smart piece in @prospect.org from @profsheenalives.bsky.social explains why that narrative doesn't hold up and what flexibility is really protecting.

prospect.org

The Dangerous Myth of Flexibility - The American Prospect

Uber and Lyft insist it benefits their drivers. In actuality, it benefits Uber and Lyft.

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Columbia Institute of Global Politics @columbiaigp.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

“Democracy is not a static thing. We constantly need to fight to rejuvenate democracy and make it work for working people” IGP Faculty Advisory Board Member & American Democracy Initiative Director @awhf.bsky.social joined Mila Atmos (a @columbiasipa.bsky.social alum!) on @futurehindsight.com.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 29/06/2026

need to start thinking now about a full package of judicial reforms: new justices, new circuits, new district courts, ethics reforms, docket reforms, and transparency reforms.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I really enjoyed chatting with @milaatmos.bsky.social for @futurehindsight.com about why we need to think about rebuilding people power as part of rebuilding our democracy after Trump, how government can unlock more organizing opportunities, and more!

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Senator Andy Kim @kim.senate.gov · 26/05/2026

I saw chaos inside and outside of the ICE detention center Delaney Hall today. Detainees protesting the lack of due process, the disgusting food and poor treatment while their families and advocates stood outside calling for help. 1/4

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Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This photo of Andy Kim in the moments before ICE gassed everyone at Delaney Hall is going into the history books. We need more of this from our electeds.

Senator Andy Kim runs into the street as an ICE armored vehicle behind him prepares to deploy chemical agents against protestors in front of Delaney Hall concentration camp in Newark, NJ. His hands are outstretched and he appears to be shouting.

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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Why do faculty and students have so little say in the governance of American universities? This terrific new paper by Daniel Hemel and David Pozen asks why American universities are liberal autocracies rather than stakeholder democracies. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I don't know that this is specifically the GC perspective, but I'd note a few things here. One is that this whole travesty underscores just how anti-republican and anti-constitutional is SCOTUS's current extreme unitary executive theory.

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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Extremely relevant today - our new report on the state of the rule of law in America brightlinewatch.org/erosion-of-t... Most notably, 91% of legal experts say Trump's DOJ provides favors or benefits to the his allies, including 56% of legal conservatives. Findings thread below; please read/share.

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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

If you're okay with everything in this speech except for the line about Gaza, as U-M's president seems to be, you're not advocating for "neutrality"--you're exploiting the rhetoric of neutrality to suppress ideas you don't like.

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Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Excited that this piece with my colleague Kate Andrias is out in the world! On the anniversary of abundance the book and May Day, we lay out how worker power has to be part of any abundance movement. Grateful to @monicapotts.bsky.social for writing about the report: newrepublic.com/article/2096...

newrepublic.com

Unions or Abundance? That’s a False Choice.

A new report argues that the labor movement is a key ally in the movement to build things more quickly.

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Groundwork Collaborative @groundwork.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

NY’s first-ever deputy mayor for economic justice, @juliesulabor.bsky.social, released new priorities: In: Affordable housing, free childcare, & city-owned grocery stores. Out: Billions in tax breaks & incentives to big developers & employers, unless they improve the lives of working New Yorkers.

thecity.nyc

Mamdani’s ‘Economic Justice’ Deputy Wants a Bigger Pie

In a dramatic shift, Deputy Mayor Julie Su says progressive policies will lift New York City’s economy.

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Neil Lewis, Jr. @neillewisjr.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

One of the most clarifying passages I've ever read on what "polarization" actually means in the U.S."

Excerpt from the book How Democracies Die.

"America's democratic norms, then, were born in a context of exclusion. As long as the political community was restricted largely to whites, Democrats and Republicans had much in common. Neither party was likely to view the other as an existential threat. The process of racial inclusion that began after World War II and culminated in the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act would, at long last, fully democratization the United States. But it would also polarized it, posing the greatest challenge to established forms of mutual tolerating and forbearance since Reconstruction."

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